Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima on Wednesday took the security situation of the state before security chiefs.
The governor, who was accompanied by chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Defence, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Hon. Betara Aliyu respectively, both representing the state at the National Assembly, met with the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.Tukur Buratai and Director General of State Security Services, Yusuf Bichi, at separate meetings.
Also accompanying the governor to the various meeting are; the chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator BabaKaka Garbai, and two newly elected members of the House of Representatives from the state.
A statement by the spokesman to the governor, Mallam Isa Gusau revealed that at the meetings issues of security including the recent relocation of residents of Jakana (a town in Konduga local government area of the state) to an IDP camp in Maiduguri which the military in Borno State said was for operational purpose, were discussed.
Gusau said the Governor and his delegation first met with the DG, SSS at the Service headquarters about 1:30pm before meeting the Defence Minister at a private residence at about 4pm after which the delegation was at the Army headquarters at 5pm for another meeting which lasted over an hour with the Chief of Army Staff.
The spokesman, who said all the meetings held behind closed doors, said the governor later briefing journalists, said the meetings was informed by the issues arising from the relocation of communities in Jakana, Auno and Mainok located in Kaga and Konduga local government areas of Borno State.
He said at the end of the meetings, the Borno State Government and the Nigerian military had reached a common ground.
Shettima, was quoted as saying: “We have accomplished our mission. The Chief of Army Staff has granted our request and some concerns raised by the Army will all be addressed. We all know that the relocation had raised dust but we felt consultation was the best approach.
“We have access to all the security heads, especially the Chief of Army Staff here who is from Borno. We have met with the Minister of Defence as you have seen. We have all come to a consensus. We also have assurances on other matters relating to the military’s ongoing fight against Boko Haram and we must acknowledge that the military has recorded huge successes not withstanding some setbacks.
“As I have always said, anyone that wants to appreciate the efforts on ground should compare with the past. We have seen the difference. We will continue to cooperate with and support the military. We will also remain grateful and proud of them.”
The Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali was said to have commended the governor for his leadership style and the cooperation he has consistently accorded to the Federal Government in the fight against Boko Haram.
He noted that the Federal Government has recently adopted new strategies in terms of involving multi-national forces from Chad and other neighboring countries. He said new strategies adopted were already producing results.