By Musdapha Ilo

The governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam, has advised the federal governments to alter its strategies in the fight against insurgents in the the North east and work more closely with local communities and their leaders.

In a statement issued and signed by his media assistant, Abdullahi Bego, in reaction to the extension of the state of emergency placed on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the governor said that the emergency rule which has been in place now for 18 months has failed to halt the insurgency in the region and its attendant killings and insecurity.

“Only ten days ago, our very young students full of hope for the future at Government Science Technical College (GSTC) Potiskum were killed in a very evil and grotesque manner. And there were many others before them in four schools across our State and in communities across the affected States,” he recalled.

Governor Gaidam said he had always advocated a situation whereby the military would work with citizens in the affected areas to fight the insurgents.

“Over the past 12 months when the Emergency Rule declared by Mr President was renewed twice, after the first one, His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam had approached the renewal with caution, always emphasising the need for an all-hands-on-deck approach where the military troops on the ground are sufficiently kitted by the federal government and people across the affected States pitched in to do their part through vigilance, community surveillance and helping the security forces in every way possible to defeat the criminals and insurgents who are wreaking havoc to this day,” he said.

“The presence of military troops on the ground is absolutely necessary but not sufficient to take the war to the insurgents and to defeat them. There are other vital ingredients which must feature now if the current extension is to enjoy any success at all,” he stated further.

He said that there was no way the wasagain terrorists can be won except the required military equipment needed by nigerian troops is provided.

The governor also urged for the federal government to do more to support people in communities ravaged by the insurgency so that they can become more interested in helping to fight Boko Haram terrorists.

“With more support to people who have been displaced or who have lost limps, livelihoods or loved ones to the criminal activities of the insurgents, it’s more likely that people will participate more actively going forward,” he reasoned.

Gaidam added that the federal government should invest more in education and infrastructure in the North to help the insurgency ravaged region in its recovery effort.

“There is no question that the affected states are doing their best in so many ways under very difficult circumstances but the federal government can help accelerate the process by intervening in road construction, rebuilding and re-equipping of schools, and by setting up regional skills hubs where young people and women would get the training they need to support themselves and their families.”

He also urged that the cooperation with neighbouring countries like Niger and Cameroon aimed at dealing with the insurgency should be stepped so that the use of border communities by the Boko Haram can be stopped.