By Jimitota Onoyume 

Arewa leader Alhaji Musa Saidu has lamented the over twenty years of killings and kidnappings in Borno state by Boko Haram, urging the state government to be actively involved in the fight to end the menace.

Saidu who spoke on the heels of the recent abduction of an unspecified number of students writing the National Examination Council, NECO examination at the Government Day secondary school, Lassa Askira/Uba local government area  in the state, pleaded with the state government  to do more to  guarantee security of lives and properties in the state.

He said it was disheartening to see that for over twenty years  there has been no heart  warming news that the  insurgents were being substantially degraded in the state, adding that the terrorists had continued to maim the lives of innocent soldiers and Nigerians in the area.

Saidu said the duty of securing lives in the state should not be left entirely to the President of the country , stressing that the state government has its role to play.

Continuing , he said there were several reports  in the media that members of the Boko Haram were from  communities in the state, urging the government to  support security operatives to smoke them out . 

Citing media reports Saidu said  security operatives deployed around the school during the examination reportedly went on patrol before the terrorists struck , saying the government should  probe the allegation  to determine if it was an act of sabotage.

The Arewa leader said the  government cannot be making huge budgetary provisions for security annually in the area with little or no  successful result , adding the state government and the military should effectively collaborate to end the ugly situation.

He also appealed  for active community participation to bring the ugly monster to an end.

He said : “The nation  cannot end this insecurity  without the involvement  of communities . The government of Borno  should do more. We should not blame Mr. President . The government should look at why the military deployed to the area reportedly  went on patrol that day.

“The Borno government and the military  should be committed to ending  Boko haram. How come the terrorist moved to the school  without being noticed ?  How did the Boko Haram know the examination was going on if they are not from the areas ? This Boko Haram can’t stop if we get these kinds of reports. 

“Over 20 years Nigeria has been spending money on security in that area. The federal government can’t be sending people to die there . You can’t end this thing without the help of the communities.  I told the president sometimes ago  to give a timeline to security operatives to end the menace. We cannot continue like this . The Borno state government should also be more  interested in fighting Boko Haram.

“We saw  how the Chadian government at a time led an operation to the Chadian river to dislodge Boko haram. Boko Haram is beginning to look   like a business in some parts of Nigeria . We can’t be budgeting for something that has no end in sight. I appeal to the government of Borno and the communities to work with the military to end this trouble.”