Evidently miffed at the recent attack by insurgents that led to the death of some passengers and abduction of 35 others in his domain, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has accused the Nigerian Army of failure in securing the 20 kilometers of road between Auno and Jakana towns where the killing and kidnap took place.
He also accused soldiers and policemen of taking bribes from motorists rather than carrying out security duties.
On a visit to Jakana, one of the major towns along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road, he lamented that majority of the attacks within the last two years took place between Auno and Jakana towns, a distance of about 20 kilometres.
Zulum told journalists all these attacks took place despite the present of troops under military troops under army commanders in Auno and Jakana
His words: “I have had occasions to defend the Nigerian military in order to boost the morale of commanders and their troops at the frontlines because I know the true picture of things.
“However, I am really disappointed that despite all support from both the Federal Government and from us in Borno State, our military is failing to secure an area of 20 kilometres, which is the distance between Auno and Jakana,” he decried.
“Honestly speaking, we are not happy; the Nigerian Army has failed in discharging their responsibility of protecting the commuters … majority of Boko Haram attacks along this Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano Road keep happening between Auno and Jakana.
“So, if the military cannot secure 20 kilometres, how can they keep us with the hope they will defeat the Boko Haram?”
“With all of you (journalists), we drove from Maiduguri to Jakana, we did not see soldiers on the road; we did not see even our own Rapid Response Squad on this road, and they were trained, employed, kitted and paid to protect all Nigerians within their areas of operation and these Nigerians include travellers plying this busy and important road,” he said.
