Borno Violence Worsens Despite American Presence, ACF Warns

The apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the reported killing of innocent traders following military airstrike on Jilli market along the Borno-Yobe border.

ACF said even with the arrival of American troops in Nigeria for training and intelligence gathering there was escalation of terrorist activities.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP, ACF national publicity secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, called for a thorough investigation into the Borno market killings and report should be made public.

While calling for the federal government to compensate the victims, ACF said they were only concerned about the innocent traders that were killed accidentally.

According to ACF, “We have been calling on the authorities to do something about it, what is sad is that the military authorities have never taken to the best of our knowledge have never taken any disciplinary action against whoever is responsible.
“If investigations are conducted the results have never been made public and then this is even surprising given the arrival of the so called arrival of the American to help us with our so-called intelligence and training. Where is the intelligence?

“Where is the training? Why is this thing happening, why is there a sudden escalation in incidents of terrorist activities since the Americans came? The thing is that the intelligence is not discouraging it is a proof that to up to now the country’s political and military authorities have not decided to firmly deal with this problem and innocent people continue suffering.”

The forum stated further, “No one will fault the attempt to exterminate terrorists but then why is it that every time intelligence on ground fails and people are paying with their lives.

“One will ask is how many lives do we have to lose before decisive action is taken we condemn the incident. We call for thorough investigations, we call for compensation for the dead and the injured and we call on the military and political authorities to come clean tell us exactly what happened why and who is being held responsible and what measures are taken to prevent such occurrences.”

ACF added, “We are not being told anything. But it’s surprising that the Americans have come with their so called equipment, with their intelligence and their training, and these things are happening. Of course, we know that these Americans themselves are not very good at that. Don’t forget, in the Iran-Israeli and American war recently, a bomb dropped on over 150 school kids. Is this going to be repeated in Nigeria? Is it the help that the Americans are giving us? Exactly what is happening? We don’t know, and we are very much dismayed, outraged, and scandalised,” the forum stated.