Borno State faction of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province(ISWAP), have appointed a governor to head parts of the state.
There are claims that ISWAP has confirmed the appointment of their own Governor for Borno State. This follows official claim that the terrorists group are not in control of any region in the country.
The terrorists according to reports, appointed Abu Musa Al Barnawi, son of Mohammed Yusuf the Boko Haram founder, as their new governor under a new leadership restructuring by an Interim Council.
The group appointed a separate leader, Abba-Kaka for ISWAP, its understands. He is the governor of Tumbumma, with jurisdiction over Marte, Abadam, Kukawa, Magumeri and other areas of the Lake Chad region.
Abba-Kaka will work with Abubakar Dan-Buduma as the Operation Commander, Timbuktu Triangle.
Abba-Kaka’s government has the structure of a normal government as it will impose taxes on fishing activities and farming.
Meanwhile, Baba Isa according to report, who was appointed to oversee Taxation and Revenue on Fishing activities was posted to Kangar in Abadam to relieve Abu Abdallah.
Also, Ibn Umar is now Chief Prosecutor, Abu Umama becomes Amir of Tudun Wulgo, while Muhammed Maina is the Commander of Sabon Tumbu, among others.
The report monitored by online sources on PRNigeria further revealed that the Interim Council introduced Mobile Courts and some policies to harmonise all insurgents activities and groups under the leadership of the ISIS.
It has also established two Caliphates at Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest to to sustain its war against countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the report, the Interim Council has lifted the ban imposed on fishing and farming activities in the Lake Chad area, three years after chasing people out of Marte, Abadam, Kukawa and Guzamala, over alleged spying for Nigerian troops. It nevertheless, imposed new taxes and levies in the areas controlled by ISWAP-Boko Haram, to regulate trades and agricultural activities.
Henceforth, members of the terrorist sect will be collecting N5,000 monthly from traders and farmers, while the fishermen will pay N2,000 per bag of fish among other levies.
Several fishermen, farmers and merchants have returned to the Lake-Chad area to engage in socio-economic activities, under the arrangement of the new ISWAP-Boko Haram Leadership, the report claimed.
Governor Zulum Responds!
I’m still governor of Borno, ISWAP not in charge — Zulum
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m the governor of Borno State and I don’t have any information that we have another government in the state. Yes. And I’m very much in charge.”
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, on Monday dismissed as false, reports that the terrorist group, the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), is now in charge of the state.
He said this when he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the planned repatriation of over 200,000 Nigerians displaced by insurgency and residing in Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the closed door meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mr Zulum said the reports were not verified.
On the reported election of governor for Borno by the terrorist group, Mr Zulum dismissed the report, saying “the claim remains unauthenticated, I’m fully in charge of the state’’.
It would be recalled that a report had emerged about three weeks ago, claiming that members of ISWAP had appointed Abba Kaka as the governor of Borno, under a new restructured leadership by an interim council.
Mr Zulum, however, dismissed the report, saying: “We are yet to validate the authenticity of this report that ISWAP has appointed a governor in Borno State.
“You’re a journalist and I think we have to prove reports beyond reasonable doubt, before commenting on such reports.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m the governor of Borno State and I don’t have any information that we have another government in the state. Yes. And I’m very much in charge.”
Repatriation
Mr Zulum also disclosed that the state government would on November 27 commence the repatriation of the displaced Nigerians, “who were willing to return home because of the improved security situation in Borno”.
“I came to brief the president on the plight of Nigerians that are living in the Republic of Chad, Cameroun and Niger, especially the indigenes of Borno State, numbering over 200,000.
“Now that we have started witnessing gradual return of peace to Borno, these people of Borno taking refuge in neighbouring countries are willing to return home.
“Therefore, Borno state government has fixed a date of Nov. 27, 2021 for the commencement of their repatriation process, especially to two Local Government Areas of Abadam and Guzamala.
“So, I came to solicit for the support of the President with a view to ensuring a hitch-free repatriation exercise.
“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs with its agencies; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Refugee Commission, as well as the North-East Development Commission and the Borno State government have the capacity to shoulder the responsibility for the exercise,” he said.
Modalities are already being put in place to ensure the safety of the returnees, Mr Zulum said.
He said the Chief of Army Staff and heads of other security agencies had given assurances of adequate protection for the communities, where the returnees would reside.
From Naijanews.
