President Muhammadu Buhari has told residents of Borno State to stop supporting Boko Haram if they want attacks from the terrorists to stop.
Mr Buhari stated this during his condolence visit to the state on Wednesday. The terrorists had on Sunday in Auno community in the state, killed over 30 persons and abducted many mainly women and children.
He said there was no where the terrorists could operate without the support of local residents.
“As commander in chief, I campaigned both in 2015 and last year on three fundamental issues which include security; you cannot preside over an institution or a country if it is not secure. This is just common sense, everybody knows this even those that have not gone to school know this,” Buhari said at the place of Abubakar Elkanemi, the shehu of Borno.
“This Boko Haram or whatever they are, cannot come up to Maiduguri or environs without the local leadership knowing because traditionally the local leadership is in charge of security in their own respective areas. So with my understanding of our culture, I wonder how Boko Haram survives up till now.
“We are working for you in this country. As commander in chief, I am dealing with the security institutions and I believe there is an improvement in security.
“I urge the people of the state to cooperate with with the law enforcement agencies and let us deny Boko Haram access to our loyal citizens and encourage displace people to go back to the land,” he added.
The president urged the youths to support the government if they are in need of a better future.
“If they don’t cooperate with the government, they are endangering their future. I am already 77, how many years do I expect under normal circumstances?” he added.
The Nigerian leader who came in from Ethiopia was booed when he visited. The president who arrived the state around 1pm did not visit scene of the attack which led to his visit nor the hospital where those who sustained injuries are being treated.
He is said to have visited the monarch and the presidential lodge in the state for refreshment and left around 4pm.
After he left for Abuja, Boko Haram terrorists returned to the capital city and continued their atrocities.
