Rita Odafe
Gov Babagana Zulum
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has expressed serious concerns regarding the potential escape of key Boko Haram figures from prison. This worry arises in the aftermath of a severe flood that struck Maiduguri, the capital city of the state.
This flood caused significant devastation, leading to loss of life and property damage amounting to millions of naira.
Additionally, parts of the old prison facility were affected, leading to the temporary relocation of inmates to the new maximum security prison in Maiduguri.
There have been rumors suggesting that the flood may have allowed for some prisoners, including possible Boko Haram leaders, to flee.
In an interview with the BBC, Governor Zulum acknowledged these fears, saying, “I’m worried, yes, I’m seriously worried.” He also highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Borno State Government, such as the Borno Model of Rehabilitation, which has helped over 200,000 Boko Haram members and their families to renounce violence over the past two years, contributing to restoring peace in the region.
The governor lamented the unfortunate timing of this natural disaster, compounding the state’s existing security challenges.
“More than 300,000 people have died in Borno State, with thousands of educational facilities destroyed and other infrastructure reduced to rubble due to the insurgency,” he noted. “Just as we are beginning to recover, we are faced with yet another calamity, which puts a further strain on our efforts to provide humanitarian aid,” Zulum stated, emphasizing that the assistance available to flood victims is insufficient.
He further explained the logistical challenges in distributing aid, stating, “We cannot feed millions in just a few hours. Our focus is on establishing camps for the affected individuals, where we can deliver aid more effectively. Otherwise, the chaos at distribution points could lead to further loss of life from either hunger or accidents while queuing for assistance.”
