Governor of Bornu State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has called on the federal and state governments to adopt a holistic and comprehensive approach in tackling the dreaded Boko Haram menace in Bornu and other parts of North East geo-political zone of the country.
Governor Shettima, who made the call after a facility tour of Arik Air at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos yesterday, maintained that the state government in partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces are in control of the situation.
He stressed that measures had been taken to ensure that the state, airport and people are secured.
“We are trying our best to ensure that security is enhanced in the state” he said
He disclosed that the state is partnering Nigerian Armed Forces to enhance security in the state.
According to him, the solution to the Boko Haram menace is a holistic approach and comprehensive social redress, which include the creation of job opportunities for the youths and partnering with the Nigerian Armed Force.
He stated that these actions would go a long way in enhancing the security challenge in Borno and other parts of North-East.
On the Civilian JTF which has joined the military in flushing out the Boko Haram, Shettima said the emergence of Civilian JTF was a divine intervention, adding that this had further reduced the activities of the sect.
He disclosed that Borno State government had trained 1000 civilian JTF, that the government pays them N15, 000 stipends monthly.
“We have trained 1000 civilian JTF. We are doing this to integrate them into the society. We are doing our best to ensure that security is restored in the North East region”, the governor said.
Commenting on his visit to Arik Air, the governor explained that he came to cement an already existing relationship between the state and Arik Air, adding that what he saw confirmed that the airline has world class facilities.
Shettima said that with the maintenance facility and modern aircraft he saw at the airline’s headquarters, he would assist in promoting the airline wherever he goes, even to the presidency.
In his response, the chairman of Arik Air, Sir Johnson Arumemi Ikhide, while commending the governor for coming to see for himself the facilities at Arik, maintained that Arik is concerned about the plight of the people of the state and the entire North-East.