STATE OF EMERGENCY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TERROR WAR

If there are still doubting Thomases out there who think that President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in the Northeast of Nigeria will not achieve any positive results, let them read this report in today’s PEOPLES DAILY Newspaper:

Boko Haram: Borno community demands troops retention

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

The Kirenoa town in Marte local government council of Borno state which was hitherto held hostage by the members of the Boko Haram sect, yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the permanent presence troops in the area so as to completely dislodge the insurgents.
Our correspondent reports that normalcy has been restored to the town and people going about their normal business after the security forces recaptured it from the insurgents after the declaration of state of emergency by Jonathan last month.
The residents disclosed this to newsmen after Governor Kashim Shettima paid a sympathy visit to the area during which he also donated relief materials to the people affected by the crisis.
In a separate interviews with reporters, the residents who praised the President over the deployment of troops also urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgent national security, consider the establishment of a permanent Army barracks to tighten security in the area.
One of the residents, Malam Bulama Sheikh, expressed the need for the establishment of a permanent military barracks in the town so as to avert any possible attempt by the gunmen to regroup and cause more havoc to innocent civilians.
“We are afraid the Boko Haram terrorists might regroup and return when the military finally round off their mission and leave.
“So, we hope the President will hear our prayers so that all the insurgents could be wiped out.
“We are happy the Federal Government ordered the deployment of troops to our area though initially we were afraid of the soldiers because of what happened in Baga recently but they have proved us wrong with their disposition towards us.
“We do not want them to leave again” Sheikh said.
Reliving their ordeal when Boko Haram captured the area, the resident alleged that their women and young daughters were forced into marriage with the terrorists.
He noted that some young girls were also raped in the process.
“The Boko Haram terrorists were seen and dressed in military uniforms and they speak our language.
“They also raped some of our young girls while other girls were subjected into forced marriage and none of us could do anything or complain because we feared for our lives.”