FRANCIS OKOYE, in this report writes that the resurgence of Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State poses a major threat to the forthcoming general elections in the state
Since last November, the manner in which Boko Haram terrorists have renewed attacks in some communities in Borno, Yobe and by extension Adamawa state is a pointer that they are up to something sinister.
This is because the terrorists resurgence is coming at a crucial time when Nigeria as a nation is heading for a general election.
In the past, the terrorists were seemed to have been subdued by the Nigerian Military through massive clearance operations in their enclaves, but the sudden attacks and counter-attacks by the insurgents, have returned the war to what looks like a fresh threat geared towards the 2019 polls.
The attacks have sent hundreds of Borno citizens down Niger Republic and Cameroon as refugees and at the same denying them chance of participating in the said elections.
Apart from the refugees that have been disenfranchised in the elections, some other displaced persons living in the various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno state, abandoned their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while fleeing from the terrorists.
Consequently, a chunk of voters from the over 2.3 million registerd voters in Borno is already cut off and disenfranchised.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Borno State, had, while updating journalists of its preparedness for the 2019 elections said about eight out of the 27 local government areas in the state will vote in some designated IDPs camps in Maiduguri and some safe local government areas.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mohammed Ibrahim said about 409, 000 persons will be voting in these designated camps.
While this is the case for this set of citizens to vote in the camps outside their homes, the terrorists are not resting in their crusade to create fear in the minds of electorate who might stay away for fear of attacks, either by suicide bombers or the gun wielding insurgents.
Recall that only recently, the terrorists, to the shock of everyone, attacked the convoy of the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima while on campaign tour of some local government areas of the state.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the governor had after his campaign in Dikwa local government area, after Mafa, decided to move to Gamboru-Ngala, when the terrorists disguised as military personnel and attacked his convoy after dividing it, to attack the one behind.
At the end of the attack, at least three persons lost their lives while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The attack on the governor’s convoy has further sent a message to the electorate in the state that the insurgents are dare devil that can spring surprise attack on anyone, irrespective of who is involved.
Similarly, on the postponed Presidential election on Saturday, and in the early hours of the following day, Boko Haram yet attacked a community in the capital city of Maiduguri, Jiddari Polo, in an effort to frustrate the earlier scheduled election in the area.
At the end of the attack, as confirmed by the Borno state Commissioner of police, Damian Chukwu, 11 persons including three suicide bombers died, while 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries.
But for the postponement of the election, hundreds of voters would have been disenfranchised, as the whole Jiddari area and environs which is densely populated was deserted after the incident.
However, reacting over the attack on his campaign convoy, through his special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, governor Kashim Shettima, said the terrorists attack was meant to attract local and global attention on him.
Mallam Gusau added that the governor has taken his campaign to some local government areas of Nothern Borno and some areas in the Southern part of the state before the attack on the governor’s convoy.
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Gusau stressed that the unfortunate incident will not make the Governor have doubt in the capacity of the gallant and patriotic personnel of the Nigerian armed forces who have dedicated their lives fighting for peace and the freedom of Borno people.
He further said that the governor has absolute confidence in the armed forces and given his access to raw updates, he is aware of the successes being recorded by the armed forces despite Tuesday’s and previous attacks by the insurgents. For one success recorded by the insurgents, the armed forces record dozens against them.
Continuing he said: “The governor remains optimistic and urges citizens to be calm, prayerful and supportive of the Nigerian armed forces and volunteers through means that include (as they have been doing) the sharing of useful information.
Meanwhile, Senatorial candidates of six political parties in the state in a press conference held in Maiduguri, described the attack on Shettima’s convoy as a sign that the areas he visited are prone to Boko Haram attacks.
The politicians, who had earlier accused the state governor of relocating IDPs who were camped in Maiduguri due to the security challenges in their communities, to other areas, for the purpose of election, called on the INEC and concerned authorities to direct the state government to return the IDPs to Maiduguri, saying that keeping them there despite the presence of the insurgents will endanger their lives.
They further alleged that relocating the IDPs out of their camps in Maiduguri, within the election period, is a ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to deny other candidates access to the IDPs for campaigns.
Speaking on behalf of others, a candidate of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN ) for the northern Borno senatorial district, Hon. Jubril Mustapha, the governor had already relocated the IDPs, with government vehicles in addition to some stipends, which invariably translates to vote buying under the watchful eyes of INEC.
Mustapha said: “The rescheduling of the 2019 presidential and national assembly elections was a good omen for the state and us as candidates.
“We, the undersigned candidates contesting election for Senatorial Districts in Borno, wish to draw to the attention of REC, Borno State and the entire world that we are opposed to the IDPs relocation arrangement made by the state government.
“It is worthy to note that most of the internally displaced persons in Borno State were camped in various locations within the state capital of Maiduguri. These people were brought to Maiduguri because of the security situation in their respective local governments; but to our astonishment, they were moved to other locations outside the state capital.
Mustapha said in view of the foregoing they categorically wish to state that they are repugnant to the relocation arrangement and non publication of number of registered voters issued with PVC.
He said Accordingly they have no confidence on the umpire in conducting a free and fair elections in Borno State.
“We therefore call on the Resident Electorate Commissioner of Borno State to as a matter of urgency immediately direct the State government to bring back the IDPs to cast their votes here in Maiduguri, as well as publish the list of registered voters and the number of registered voters issued with PVC in all the local governments wards, and polling units or else, we will be left with no option than to withdraw from participating in the election,” Hon . Mustapha said.
The political parties that protested the relocation of the IDPs are Yes Electoral Solidarity (YES) Party; National Progressive Movement (NPM); Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA); United Peoples Congress (UPC) ; Nigeria Community Movement Party ( NCMP ); and Green Party of Nigeria ( GPN ).
