By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

A senator from Borno State has said Boko Haram insurgents are in control of half of the state, with the other half held by government forces.

Baba Kaka Garbai, who represents Borno Central Senatorial District in the Senate, made the comments on Saturday when he donated relief materials to residents of Dalori village, scene of the carnage caused by the terrorist group that left 65 people dead and several others injured.

He said both the military and Boko Haram are each in control of three local governments, with the insurgents still having some level of dominance in the other 21 local governments.

“Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are 100 percent occupied by the insurgents. There are some local governments that are partially occupied by the insurgents especially as the local government secretariats have been liberated but their hither-lands are still controlled by the insurgents,” Garbai told reporters.

“From my count, only three local government are fully liberated, 21 local governments partially occupied by insurgents, that is there is still some level of Boko Haram occupation side by side the military or any other constituted authority. The local government fully occupied by Boko Haram are Abadam, Mobbar and Kala Balge.”

The senator also said although Dalori villages got information days earlier that there was going to be an attack by Boko Haram and reported to the relevant authorities, they were left helpless.

“They actually got the signal a few days before the attack that the insurgents were likely to attack them, they reported to the constituted authorities but nothing was done.

“I will like to appeal to the military to intensify their effort in ensuring they beef up security around the villages and communities that share borders with Maiduguri metropolis. It is very important and more so that this place is porous, there could be attack from any direction,” he explained.

Garbai also dismissed suggestions that the group has been defeated, warning that this is far from the reality. Apart from Maiduguri, he said, only Bayo and Kwaya Kusar local government areas have actually been recaptured completely from the insurgents.

“We should not live under the illusion that Boko Haram are decimated or weaken, these are not reality and neither a true reflection of the reality. The reality is that most of the local government in Borno is partially occupied by Boko Haram,” the Senator advised.

On the proposed reconstruction, rehabilitation and relocation in the troubled areas, Garbai said it was inadvisable at least for now.

He said: “If the people are moved back to their homelands you are making them vulnerable to attack. Unless you provide maximum security and return of law and order in these areas, relocating these people would be endangering their lives.”

However, Senate Leader and senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has advised that the planned rehabilitation and reconstruction of the of the state can go ahead given the success recorded against Boko Haram.

Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Sunday, Ndume said: “I still have confidence in our military, I still want to believe that our military are on top of the situation. What is happening these days is the issue of intermittent suicide bombing and desperate attacks by the insurgents because their supply routes have been cut off and they attack in other to get supplies. They have been carting away foodstuffs of attacked communities.”

He argued that the recent surge in attacks by the group should not deter the work to resettle those displaced by the insurgency, adding that the people of Gwoza, where he is from, were willing to return to their homes.