Helicopters supply materials to Boko Haram – Borno and Yobe elders allege

Elders of the Borno, Yobe People’s Forum have alleged that the Boko Haram insurgents raging havoc in the North East are supplied various materials such as arms and ammunition, food and medicine via an helicopter.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the elders blamed the Federal Government for claiming ignorance of the activities of the sect members who now move freely in convoys without being detected. They called on the government to tell Nigerians those who authorised the withdrawal of security personnel from the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, few hours before a deadly attack that claimed the lives of 59 innocent children.

It was a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Al-amin Dagash (rtd.) who read out the statement on behalf of the members of the Forum. He wondered why it has been difficult for the government to prevent many deadly attacks in the region despite the declaration of a state of emergency.

“Are the authorities unaware of helicopters dropping arms and ammunition, food and medical supplies to areas well known to be strongholds of the insurgents?

“How were the insurgents able to attack the Maiduguri Air-Force Base and demobilise as well as burn planes and other military installations despite existing state of emergency and curfew in the town? How could 20 to 30 Toyota Hilux vehicles move in a convey freely with subsisting curfew and still go undected?

“How did a little band of rag-tag misguided youths metamorphose into a well kitted, well armed killing machine moving freely in convoy of vehicles and supported by holicopters.

“How did the Shilka Tank, a multipurpose self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery weapon positioned to secure Giwa Barracks fail to function resulting in heavy loss of lives of both civilian and military as widely reported in the media? Are we dealing with fifth columnists in this crisis?”

Other elders at the conference were: former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; and elderstatesman, Shetima Mustapha.