By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
An activist in Borno state has dismissed the official position of return of security in many parts of the North-Eastern state of Nigeria, alleging that the reverse is the case.
Reverend Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, who hails from the state, said he could no longer bear the situation, and claimed that presently entire districts are under the control of terrorist groups, especially Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Dikwa, Director General (DG), Centre for Justice on Religious and Ethnicity in Nigeria, said even vehicles no longer ply roads leading to some of the areas under the terrorists’ control due to insecurity.
He made the revelations in a press statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday.
Rev. Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa
Over time, government and military leaders have kept reassuring Nigerians of the return of peace to territories captured by terrorists even as they acknowledged that only a small swathe of lands is still being held by the violent extremist groups.
But, according to Dikwa, areas such as Mallam Ma’aja Gulumba district in Bama, Jara’a district in Kala Balge and other districts in Gamboru-Ngala, Marte are under terrorists’ control.
He stated: “The fact remains that vehicles don’t ply the roads leading to the areas I earlier mentioned. Our communities are under the control of the terrorists.
“These so-called B’Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups have taken over my own district and it is entirely under their control. The terrorist groups and the political leaders and high ranking security officers don’t want us to speak out the truth.”
The activist added: “Anyone who challenges the authenticity of this information should contact us so that we will direct them to the areas occupied by these terrorists
to see for themselves. The road from Damboa to Biu is closed till date and nobody can follow the road.
“Even the Army generals cannot dare that road because the terrorists have occupied it. If you want to travel from Biu to Maiduguri, you have to follow through Buratai to Damaturu in Yobe state before coming down to Maiduguri.
“Last week, the Emir of Biu came for a program in Maiduguri and it was the military that escorted him to Damaturu from Maiduguri and from Damaturu to Buratai and then to Biu.”
Listing some alleged victims of terrorist activities, the activist stated that “Rev. Paul John of COCIN Church and his wife were abducted from Gamboru-Ngala. Justice Mshelia’s wife, driver and orderly are still in the custody of the terrorists at Sambisa Forest.
“Some displaced people that went back to their communities from Gubio, Magumeri Damasak and even Konduga and Mafa, which is Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s town close to Maiduguri the state capital, are still complaining.
“They are complaining that the terrorists are taxing them before they were allowed to farm. Every six months terrorist groups go into the villages and count their animals so as to remove tax from the animals.”
Rev. Dikwa accused some unidentified persons of benefiting from the menace not minding the damaging to the poor in the society.
He said: “Beneficiaries of these terrorist groups must stop intimidating, harassing and threatening innocent Nigerians.
“Someone called me on phone and threatened me that I’m going to die very soon but I told him that I’m already a dead person. It’s my spirit that is exposing their activities and will continue to do so.
“We have written a letter to President Bola Tinubu concerning Gwoza Christian Community that are being occupied by B’Haram and ISWAP terrorists. The land owners are being chased out of their communities by the terrorists.
“There are over 28,000 Christians that have fled their communities and are now living in the Republic of Cameroon, 18,000 in Taraba, 17,000 in Nasarawa.
“The Office of the President sent the letter to NIA and I was invited. NIA officials, a former Honorable member representing Chibok, Damboa and Gwoza federal constituency and I went to inspect the affected areas.
“NIA officials promised to relocate the owners to their communities, but up to date, nothing has been done. The authorities did not look for us, and the Christians displaced continue to stay where they are.
“The terrorists continue to occupy the Christian communities, farming and creating their own country with their Governors.
“Between the 20th and 21st November, 2024 the ISWAP terrorist group attacked our military forces and killed many of our Nigerian military officers at Kareto and Damasak villages in Mobbar LGA of Borno State.
“The ISWAP terrorist members do come to the markets to buy commodities and have warned the villagers not to connive with the Nigerian military or discuss their issues with the military or report them to the military.
“Our junior military officers are dying in the hands of these so-called bandits, kidnappers, B’Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups.
“The masses need freedom which they deserve but the reverse is the case. They are being terrorized.”
