Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has claimed that the mass surrender of over 35,000 fighters and commanders of Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) was divine intervention through the endless prayers from all over the globe.
The Governor, made the claim in his Easter message, saying the mass surrender of over 35,000 fighters and commanders, was certainly one of Allah’s many miracles towards healing Borno and rest of the Northeast.
He said: “The mass surrender of over 35,000 fighters and commanders, is certainly one of Allah’s many miracles towards healing Borno and rest of the northeast.”
“This mass surrender is product of the endless prayers citizens across Borno, the northeast, rest of Nigeria and indeed the world, have been offering, seeking God’s intervention to heal Borno State. It is the product of immense sacrifices by armed forces and volunteers. It is product of repeated calls by political leaders, clergies, elders and traditional rulers, asking insurgents to lay down their arms and embrace peace.”
“We must therefore be optimistic in welcoming the likely benefits of disarming, demobilizing, rehabilitating and reintegrating mass-surrendered insurgents.”
“However, we must welcome them without disregarding the risks associated with the programme, hence the need for sustain stringent security profiling and other Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, DDR, procedures that can ensure overall safety of the programme.”
“I therefore urge all citizens to fervently pray for the success of our DDR for the mass surrender of those who seek peace, and for the successes of our armed forces and volunteers in front lines against those who insist on violence.”
“May God grant us enduring peace in Borno State, the northeast and rest of Nigeria. Happy Easter to our christian brothers and sisters.”
He added that: “In over 12 years of our battles with insurgents (Boko Haram and later, ISWAP) Borno State, for the first time, has a golden window that has the potential of ending the insurgency.”
“May God grant us enduring peace in Borno State, the northeast and rest of Nigeria. Happy Easter to our Christian brothers and sisters,” he said.
