13th April, 2014
The Emir of Gwoza in Borno state, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, on Sunday decried the renewed insurgency in the area, saying it had crippled the socio-economic activities in his domain. Gwoza is about 129 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital.
According to a statement issued in Maiduguri, the Emir said his people have witnessed increased attacks with mass killings by the insurgents in the last four months.
“The attacks have crippled both social and economic lives in the entire area,’’ the statement quoted the emir as saying.
Timta said: “it is sad to say that my people have been blocked from going to the market by the insurgents, who kill at will.
“Even the food crops cultivated by them in the last farming season have ended up with the Boko Haram as the harvest were seized by the insurgents making life unbearable.
“There is an urgent need for the security agents to intensify and change their tactics of operation to stop the mass killings in this area.’’
He said the insurgents had also killed many number people by blocking major highways, and appealed to security agents to intensify patrol on these roads to prevent the attacks.
“If care is not taken my people will completely flee the area to neighbouring states and countries for safety,’’ he said.