Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, has kicked against plans of the military to relocate Minok and Jakana communities in Kaga local government area of the state.
Zulum said this on Tuesday after he visited the two communities that were attacked by Boko Haram attacks last week.
The governor stressed that the military’s attempt to move inhabitants of the communities to internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri, would compound the humanitarian crisis in the state.
“I call on the chief of army staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai, to refrain from the action,” he said.
“In as much as possible, we need to commend the federal government’s effort in the counter-insurgency operation, but we are not in support of displacing these communities.
“We are fully behind the military and police with a view to condone and search exercise in the communities to arrest and prosecute all those involved in nefarious activities.
“But we do not want the communities to be displaced. The federal and state government, the National and State Emergency Management Agencies (NEMA and SEMA), humanitarian and development partners should be notified.
“The police, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and other security agencies should also be notified so that we can make adequate arrangements.
“I am sure that no information had been passed to the police, the Department of State Security Service (DSS), as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with respect to the planned evacuation of Jakana and other communities to Maiduguri.”
