As against the widely believed tale that the radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram started in Borno State years ago before it took arms against the government in a bid to establish an Islamic caliphate, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, has made a surprising revelation about the true origin of the sect.
Speaking on Tuesday to ThisDay correspondent during the presentation of his permanent voter’s card (PVC) to him by the Borno Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Samuel Madaki, the traditional ruler said it was incorrect to trace the roots of the Boko Haram insurgency to Borno State.
The monarch, who lamented that the Boko Haram insurgency has left about two million people internally displaced within Maiduguri, revealed that the terrorists group was imported to the state from a sister state.
Shehu of Borno also lamented that at present, only two first class emirs are still staying in their domains as five others have been made to seek refuge in Maiduguri.
“We have about two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, our people were displaced and their houses were burnt. They have been made to go through wanton destruction. Palaces were taken over by insurgents. We have five emirs residing in Maiduguri, we only have two emirs still in their domains,” he said.
The monarch while insisting that the Boko Haram menace did not originate from the state, he said: “This problem was not initiated here but was brought to us from one of our sister states. The problem was brought on us and taken to neighbouring states and gradually it has found its way into neighbouring countries.”
The Shehu of Borno further revealed that the people have been made to live in fear, adding that they are encircled by insurgents and it is so sad that getting out of Maiduguri is difficult.
He said you can hardly travel 10 kilometres from Borno without being attacked, noting that the only safe passage cannot really be said to be safe as there are pockets of attack on the route to Maiduguri-Kano highway.
The monarch called on the Idependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the internally displaced persons within Maiduguri are not disenfranchised during the polls, adding that it was not their fault that they had to flee their hometowns.
He advised INEC to do everything possible to make sure the displaced people are allowed to vote during the forthcoming elections.
Speaking earlier, the state REC, Madaki, promised that the PVCs that are yet to be brought to the state would be delivered before the end of the week.
The REC explained that the aforementioned plan need to be executed in order to have a hitch-free election, assured all that the electoral umpire is ready to have credible election.
The Shehu of Borno who had always been against the Boko Haram activities had once noted that the major factor which the Boko Haram sect feeds and grows on is uncontrolled or unchecked youth militancy. He blamed insurgency on activities of unchecked youth militancy.
It was because of the Boko Haram incessant attacks in Borno that prompted over 10,000 members of the Civilian JTF to take to the street to protest their destructive activities and show their readiness to tackle the sect.
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