By Ndahi Marama
TO end the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State and other states in the North, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubukar Umar Garbai Ibn El-Kanemi, wants the Federal Government to expedite action on oil exploration along the Lake Chad Basin; and job creation, while Borno elders will continue to hold quarterly meeting at the palace until peace is restored.
The monarch spoke, yesterday, at his Maiduguri palace while addressing traditional and religious leaders on how to ensure “peace, unity and security” of life and property amid the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
He said the Boko Haram insurgency could be overcome with intensive “prayers and fasting,” while the Federal Government expedites action in the exploration of oil in the Chad Basin areas, so that more jobs could be created for the unemployed youths roaming the streets.
Speaking on the roles of traditional and religious leaders to overcome security challenges, El-Kanemi said: “Members of the Borno Emirate Council (BOEC) have resolved that elders along with their religious and traditional rulers will be holding a quarterly meeting at the palace.
And such meeting is to fashion out strategies and means of ending the incessant attacks, bombings and killings of innocent citizens by the Boko Haram sect members. The meeting is however not enough to end this insurgency that has lasted for over three years. Government at the federal and state levels should intervene and contribute their quota by expediting action on the Chad Basin oil explorations and job creation in the North-East sub-region of the country.”
He said one of the major reasons that gave rise to the Boko Haram insurgency has been ‘poverty and massive unemployment among youths, stating that the idle minds of the youths had created the devil’s workshops to launch incessant attacks and killings of innocent citizens in the state and some parts of the North.
He however noted that the people, irrespective of their religious and political affiliations, should continue with their prayers and fasting until the security challenges are collectively overcome.
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