Former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd) yesterday urged religious and Traditional Leaders to consciously ponder on the role they have played in the successes Boko Haram has recorded in it’s bloody campaign to destabilize Nigeria.
The Former Military Governor stated this in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY in Kaduna said “Religious leaders, leaders of ethnic or regional groups and politicians at all levels should step back and ponder the role they wittingly or unwittingly have played in the successes Boko Haram has recorded in it’s bloody campaign to destabilize Nigeria.
He said “Boko Haram’s ambition of creating a climate of fear, terror and panic ahead of their plan to re-invent Nigeria, seem close to reality.”
“A visitor to some of the major cities in northern Nigeria – Kano, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Kaduna etc – will be forgiven to conclude that Nigeria is at war. Indeed, every passing day brings heart rending stories of cruel killings from Boko Haram’s bombs and explosions with panic stricken citizens running from pillar to post. And with police and military check-points conducting widespread stop and search everywhere, the scenario of a nation at war is hardly disputable.??
Meanwhile, two persons including a past council boss were shot dead by suspected Boko Haram members during a condolence visit in Damboa town, in the? south of Borno State.
It was learnt that the former council boss of Damboa local government area, Lawan Kagu who just buried his father on Friday evening was receiving visitors who came to pay a condolence visit on him when he was gunned down by the suspected fundamentalists.
Witnesses disclosed that the gunmen who pretended to be sympathizers were able to get close to their victims and even sat on the mat with them for some minutes before drawing out their guns from their flowing gowns and shooting at close range.
Immediately they drew the gun out everyone took to their heels leaving the council boss at their mercy. They rained gunshots on him and immediately took to their heels.
The other victim was shot dead to make way for their escape as they shot sporadically to spare the people of the area off.
The Commissioner of Police, Simeon Midenda could not be reached as at the time of filing the report last night for confirmation.
But the Information Officer of the council, Sheriff Ajigil however confirmed the incident on phone from the town.
He said: “Lawan Kagu, our former council chairman and one other person were shot dead last night (Friday) in Damboa while the former council chairman was receiving condolences from sympathizers over the death of his father.”
He revealed that the gunmen had disguised as sympathizers before removing their guns from their flowing gowns and shot the two dead.