Thousands of youths who thronged to the streets in Maiduguri on Thursday to protest the siege of the Boko Haram sect on Borno State have expressed their willingness to go after the terrorist group.
The youths who initially assembled at the popular Ramat Square Ground at the centre of the town to begin their protest against the insurgents who had laid siege on the state since 2009, moved to the streets of the troubled state capital. Continue...
Their peaceful protest ended at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Ibn-Garbai Elkanemi, where they sought for his blessings, in the belief that it would ensure success in their confrontation with the terrorists.
The youths said they have resolved to enter Sambisa Forest and other hideouts of the terrorists to hunt them down and bring an end to the ongoing crisis.
At the palace of the prominent ruler, the Shehu tasked the protesting youths, mainly members of the youth vigilante group, popularly known as ‘Civilian JTF’, to always abide by the rule of law in the course of discharging their civic responsibilities.
It would be recalled that in the last three weeks, some towns including Damboa, Gamboru Ngala, Bama and Banki were attacked by the terrorist group with some either captured or destroyed with many civilians killed and several thousands displaced.
Addressing over 10,000 civilian JTF members, local hunters, retired soldiers and other paramilitary men who took to the streets at his palace, the Shehu of Borno commended the efforts of the civilian JTF in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, and appealed to them to always follow the directives of the military and other security agencies while discharging their duties.
He opined that the emergence of the Civilian JTF has assisted in dislodging the sect out of Maiduguri and its environs
He called for the setting up of more Civilian JTF/youth volunteers to fight terrorism in other parts of the region.
He said, “I want to thank you for this visit and the effort you are collectively and voluntarily doing in order to fight Boko Haram who are bent on, not only destroying our social and economic structures, but also killing innocent people.
“I want to also appeal to you that you should desist from politics, religious or ethnic bias while discharging your duties to your fatherland. In anything you are doing, you must make sure that you consult all other security agencies so that you work hand-in-hand to end terrorism that have been destroying us as a nation.”
The state Coordinator of Civilian JTF, Mallam Abba Aji Kalli, in an interview with journalists said, they were at the Shehu’s palace to seek for his blessings and fatherly advice, as the group had vowed to go after insurgents even if they are not well armed.
He expressed optimism that even with their sticks (Gora in Hausa) and other local arms they would raid all terrorists hideouts and kill them if given permission by the federal government.
Aji Kalli also said, the Civilian JTF are now more motivated with the support and assurance they received from retired military men, local hunters and other patriotic citizens who have expressed their willingness to join the group to end the madness perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.
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