Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, on Friday declared that the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, were grossly misunderstood by their fellow Nigerians.

Fielding questions on the Security challenge in the North, from journalists at the Presidential villa, the governor who was one of the first three Northern governors to issue an apology to the group which has claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks in the country, argued that the Boko Haram group was not necessarily against the Nigerian society.

In his words: "I want the Press to appreciate and let them try to define what Boko Haram really means. Boko in Hausa means learning in English while Haram is something forbidden.

"They did not say they forbid learning in Arabic, neither did they say they forbid learning in Chinese language or German or French.

"So, then you ask yourself, what is this Boko Haram? Is learning Medicine in Arabic forbidden? The average Nigerian Journalist thinks about Islamic sect springing up to fight the society. That is not true.

"The fact is that, if it is fighting Western education, have you ever seen where a group of terrorists has gone to bomb a primary school, or a secondary school or laboratory or even hospital?

"The spate of terrorism we have seen is targeted towards police stations and killing of politicians. So there lies the question what is Boko Haram?

"When you do your research you will likely come up with the fact that Boko Haram is about something else."

The Bauchi State Governor pointed out that the problems facing the country can be solved when leaders realise that their responsibility is to create jobs, put food on the tables of the people, check armed robbery, revive ailing industries and ensure electricity for our people as “ an idle mind is the devil's workshop”.

Yuguda noted that an absence of the above mentioned is what gave rise to the group.

"So, Boko Haram was used by those young men who graduated for so many years without a job and they have first and even second degrees and have stayed for many years without jobs.

"So what else do you expect them to do and what do you expect the devil to tell them?

"But for them, learning in this particular language has made it difficult for them to get jobs. It could be a psychological thing.

"So it is a challenge for us as a generation to rally round Mr. President to succeed. It is God who gave him the Presidency, we must support him by being transparent," the governor said while insisting that "despite the things that have happened, Nigeria’s level of security is not worse than several other countries."

if they are not fighting against western education, then what, killing innocent people because you are jobless it doesn't make sense to me!!

if they are not fighting against western education and nigerian society, then what, why killing innocent nigerian people, why not go hunt the politicians that made them jobless, it doesn't make sense to me attacking innocent people!!!

them ask you? The boko haram sponsors have started exposing themselves. Take it easy my boko-governor. . . S S S is closing in gradually.

so what exactly are they fighting for

Coward! Ds guy should hav sewn a hood over his babanriga or be forcefully turbaned to cover his cowardly face. Suddenly he has found a place for himself as d Information Officer/ Rebranding Project Coordinator for Boko Haram. He should tell us y BH targeted and forcelly made Unimaid and Uniben close schools. What abt UI threats from same group? Y d bank attacks and robberies? Y attack police? Is ds same ideology as same as direct BH call for full national Sharia implementation?

Dat coward should go and sit somewhere and and hide his face between blossoms of miss Yar'Adua.

Whether Boko Haram is Understood or Misunderstood, must they impose their ideology on Nigerians to the extent of killing people?

Please Mr Governor clearly tell us whether you are for boko haram or against?

You are so much defending them and even putting words for them.

Even if they want to learn in Arabic or anyother language. who is stopping them? 

And from understanding Boko; means western education and not Learning in English, unless that's your definition for the BH sect.!


Please allow them to speak for themselves, since you are not their official spokesman.