The Yobe State governor, Ibrahim Geidam, has refuted reports that he said during a recent National Economic Council meeting in Abuja that five local governments in the state were under the control of the Boko Haram insurgents.

The governor’s director of press, Abdullai Bego, in a press statement issued over the weekend said the Geidam was quoted out of context.

He said the governor only referred to a point in time in the past when the insurgents held sway over two out of the 17 local governments in the state.

“These reports are misleading and totally out of the purview of the brief that His Excellency Governor Gaidam gave to the National Economic Council regarding the security situation in Yobe State. While security is still a concern and more work needs to be done, there is not a single local government council in Yobe under the sway or control of the insurgent Boko Haram,” Bego said.

He said the governor only commended the gallant efforts of the armed forces in retaking the two communities, Gujba and Gulani, freed and liberated from insurgents’ stranglehold.

“His Excellency, the governor, did of course ask for additional troops and weaponry to be deployed to Yobe State. He made this request only within the context of the need to sustain the momentum against Boko Haram and ensure that terrorists and insurgents are denied a chance to further harm our people,” Bego said

He said the government and people of Yobe State would continue to support and partner with the federal government and security forces as they stepped up effort to restore peace and security in Yobe State, the Northeast and the country in general.