Boko Haram: Madagali Youths Blame Stakeholders’ Influence on Military for Persistent Insurgency

Daji Sani in Yola

Youths of Madagali Local Government Area in Adamawa state have ascribed the persistence Boko Haram attacks in their areas to the undue influence exerted by some stakeholders on the military authorities to release some members of the terrorist group who were identified by their victims.

The youth leader, Alhaji Dauda Usman, who spoke on behalf of the youths at the flag-off distribution of relief materials by the Presidential Committee On the North-east Initiative (PCNI) in Gulak town of Madagali LGA yesterday, lamented that if the activities of these stakeholders are not curtailed, the Boko Haram insurgency will continue to persist in the area.

According to him, the insurgents have continued to enjoy cover from prominent personalities because whenever they are identified by their victims and were arrested and handed over to the military after some time they are released and sent back into society.
“You will see them walking freely, we know these people but we are afraid to mention names because they might come after you” he said.

He also revealed that the hunters manning the areas complained that sometimes when they go into the bush they always bring back empty bags used to bring relief materials to Madagali.
He said the development is pathetic and called on all sons and daughters of Madagali and government to come together and fight the insurgency to finish, adding that the insurgents have left the dreaded Sambisa forest and have their enclaves in Madagali.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Madagali, Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, appreciated PCNI for the relief materials and promised that distribution would be done judiciously without religious, political or tribal sentiments.

Yusuf said the relief materials would go a long way to cushion the hardship faced by the citizens due to the persistence of insecurity challenges that had disallowed his people from farming for more than three years now.

He said their major request is that government should provide security for them because the insurgents have left Sambisa and have returned and are camping close to Madagali.
The development has denied farmers access to their farms for fear of attack by insurgents, he said, adding that their women cannot go into the bush to fetch fire wood for fear of being kidnapped

He said his people are hard-working and that one person could harvest between 500 to 1000 bags of grains from his farm, adding, “but because of the insurgency our people cannot go to their farms and our women also cannot go out to fetch fire wood for the fear of attack. What we need is not food alone, so government should provide us with adequate security especially now that we are approaching farming season:, he said

He also thanked ALGON and the governor of Adamawa state Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow for donating relief materials to his people.

While responding, the representative of PCNI, Hajiya Nafisa Joda who witnessed the distribution said the PCNI have embarked on the distribution of relief materials to all the local government areas of the state affected by the insurgency.

She said among the local governments affected by insurgency Madagali was allocated the largest share of relief materials because it is the most affected local government.
Jodda said she has heard the plight of the people of Madagali and would relay their plight to the sub-committee on security matters under PCNI to act with urgency to clear the remaining insurgents terrorising the people.

Also responding the member representing Michika and Madagali Federal Constituency, Hon. Adamu Kamale said the agitations by the Madagali youths, would be thoroughly investigated as he promised to take up the matter at the National Assembly. He said those involved in whatever plot to aid the insurgency to thrive in the areas would not go unpunished

Kamale, who also witnessed the distribution of relief materials at Madagali and Michika, called on the stakeholders to shun tribal, religious or political sentiments in the distribution process.
PCNI has distributed relief materials in Gombi, Hong, Michika and Madagali local government areas of the state and promised to rebuild roads and bridges destroyed by the insurgents.