NGO Raise Alarm Of 40,000 Orphans In Borno

A non governmental organization BRAVEIT has said Borno State is home to over 40,000 orphans in addition to widows following the over a decade war against insurgency.

The group said Nigeria has defeated insurgency which it accused foreign nations of sponsoring the unrest to protect their economic fortune but expressed fear that the over 40,000 children left orphans could pose a danger in the future in not properly taken care of.

The State Director of the group Abba Aji Kalli said a foreign nation was behind the unrest in the North-East and lake Chad region in order to prevent exploration of oil from the region.

Abba who was the first commander Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno State said the war in the North-East was more of economic survival by foreign nations.

He said “let me inform you that France is behind the problem of insurgency in Nigeria.It is an economic war.”

He added that there are over 40,000 orphans in Borno State alone.

Also the chairman of the group Prof Khalifa Dikwa said Nigeria has defeated insurgency ,adding that there is no where in the world where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps are closed except in Nigeria following the resettlement of victims of insurgency by the Borno State governments.

He lamented that insurgency had persisted because there is no political will to name those sabotaging the country’s security.

“Terrorism is deceit,it has nothing to do with religion,so we are engaging with them to dispel that belief. It is an attempt for the industrial complexes to sale weapons ,We were fighting countries who tried to destabilise Nigeria “, he said

He further lamented that the military and other security agencies were under funded to take care of the needs of the people hence,widespread agitations.

The Director of Operations Lawrence Bilal Audu said Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has made landmark achievements especially in the area of security despite some daunting challenges which he describe as deliberately inflicted.

“As the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari winds down in a few months’ time, we wish to note without any fear of contradiction that, Nigeria under his dynamic leadership has made landmark achievements in various strata of the polity particularly in the area of security despite some daunting challenges which may describe as deliberately inflicted” he said.

He recalled that insecurity in Nigeria prior to the ascension of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Presidency, was one where almost 19 local government areas in the Northeast region of Nigeria, “with a landmass twice the size of Belgium was under the occupation of the once dreaded but now defeated Boko Haram terrorists reduced to mere ragtag groups who only prey on selected soft targets”.

He said there has been a sustained push by our gallant troops in the Northeast Theatre of Operations.
“Following the introduction of home-made solutions to tackling insurgency in addition to the acquisition of platforms and equipment to prosecute the war as well as training exercises for troops who are now fully acquainted with this nature of asymmetric warfare. Today, over 83,000 terrorists have surrendered to troops in various locations following sustained push by the military to root out remnants who still hibernate in some locations of the northeast”.

Audu said there is also a drift in the situation in the North West for the better as the military through their onslaught have taken down so many bandits leaders and their collaborators ,adding that the once troubled region is now witnessing relative peace.

“all these have been made possible by the existing synergy among security agencies with the massive support being given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He commended the Nigerian Navy under Vice Admiral Zubairu Awwal Gambo whose dynamic and pragmatic leadership has changed the landscape of operations for the better.

He said the Falcon Eye – Surveillance system has prevented the theft of over three billion barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil in the last four years. “Bringing an end to maritime-related crimes also helps to improve the lives and livelihoods of those communities most affected by these illegal activities.

“A recent visit to Baga road fish market in Maiduguri witnessed a heightened activity as business has resumed fully with traders from all across the country converging for the purpose of trading. This has been made-possible by the presence of the of the Navy’s elite Special Operations Forces (SOFs) and the Nigerian Navy’s elite Special Boat Service – which is unmatched among SOFS in Africa, at the Lake Chad basin who have completely rooted out terrorists operating in the region. Baga in Borno State is now safe now and people are fishing. This is the same with the issue of pirates along Nigeria’s coastal waters where the Nigerian Navy has continued to frustrate the efforts of economic saboteurs. We now see pirates both local and international being arraigned in courts”.

“We want to commend him for helping Nigeria at this critical period when the country is facing economic difficulties and a range of threats from criminals and violent actors, we also commend officers and men of the Nigerian Navy who have stepped up to protect the country’s maritime security. We remain grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari who has continued to encourage the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Force to bring out the best in them.