Federal Govt, Military Have Abandoned Guzamala LGA to Terrorists, Says Borno Speaker

In  a stark revelation, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon Abdulkarim Lawan, has accused the federal government and the Nigerian military of abandoning Guzamala local government area to Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists for over a decade. Speaking at the June 12 Democracy Day celebration, Lawan highlighted the dire situation, stating that no one currently resides in Guzamala due to the overwhelming presence of terrorists.

Hon Lawan also pointed to Kukawa local government area, which faces similar challenges. He urged the federal government and the military to deploy troops to these areas to enable displaced residents to return home. For years, the people of Guzamala have been living in IDP camps, where they have been casting their votes since the 2015 elections.

“The security agencies have been doing very well in Borno State. They provided an enabling environment for the people of the state, but the Nigerian military abandoned and neglected Guzamala local government to the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists,” Lawan said. He emphasized the urgent need for military intervention, noting that the residents are scattered across IDP camps and even in neighboring countries like Niger Republic.

Acting Governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, addressed the issue, assuring that efforts are underway to relocate displaced persons back to their homes. In the spirit of Democracy Day, he announced the pardon of 10 prisoners. Kadafur reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to resettling all displaced persons before the end of Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration.

APC Chairman in Borno State, Hon Ayuba Bello, commended Acting Governor Kadafur for his attendance at the celebration and praised President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to address insecurity and improve the economy. Bello also lauded Governor Zulum’s achievements in restoring displaced persons to their ancestral homes.