Shettima: Boko Haram does not control any Local Government in Borno

The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has dismissed claims that some local governments in the state were occupied by Boko Haram.

The governor was speaking to newsmen on Monday and said the claim by the senator representing Borno Central in the National Assembly, Sen. Baba Garbai, last weekend that the state was still under the control of the insurgents was either an emotional outburst or perhaps he was misquoted.

He said, “As the chief security officer of Borno State I can tell you authoritatively that no local government is under the occupation of Boko Haram.

“Our military deserves commendation, because all my local government areas have been liberated; only few insurgents remain in the Sambisa Forest where they continue to launch some pockets of attacks as a result of the bombardment that is going on in their hideouts.

“It is either the senator was emotional or misquoted. The military has recorded tremendous successes in the fight against Boko Haram in the last six months. You know Ngala, Dikwa and some areas were recently liberated and as the chief security officer of the state, I can confidently say Boko Haram has been decimated, demoralised and degraded. Borno is better off than it was six months ago.”