Photos: "Borno is now free! declares Governor Shettima as he visits NEMA headquarters in Abuja

Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima says Boko Haram has been decimated since President Muhammadu Buhari took office. He declared that "Borno is now free," noting, however, that the war against the sect is still on. Shettima stated this yesterday, April11 during his visit to the headquarters of National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) in Abuja.

Accompanied by Senators Abubakar Kyari and Baba Kaka Garbai as well as some top state functionaries, Governor Shettima was received by the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sidi.

"10 months ago, one could not travel for 10 kilometres without encountering terrorists; Maiduguri was the only relatively safe haven,"  he said. "Yes, we still have occasional hiccups, but Boko Haram has been so decimated that they can no longer threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria."

Shettima noted that peace was gradually returning to the state, expressing optimism that by year-end, all Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, would have returned to their homes.

Speaking, Sidi commended the governor for reconstructing liberated areas, urging him not to be deterred by occasional and isolated terrorist attacks on soft targets.

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Source: NEMA