Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has issued a stern warning on Sunday to internally displaced persons (IDPs) considering joining Boko Haram, asserting, “You can’t threaten me.”
Expressing his frustration during an address to IDPs in Mafa, Zulum emphasized his administration’s efforts in providing aid to those affected by the conflict, stating, “Believe me, what we are doing is even beyond our capacity.”
“In the last couple of years, we have consistently provided food to internally displaced and vulnerable people. Believe me, what we are doing is even beyond our capacity. In the last four years, the Government of Borno State spent nothing less than N40bn to provide food and non-food items to the people of the State.
“We distributed food to IDPs and vulnerable communities every quarter. However, with the improvement in the security situation, we decided to reduce the number of our distribution because people have started earning their livelihood,” he added.
Zulum highlighted the challenges faced by both the state and federal governments in addressing the widespread hardship, citing economic crises not only in Borno but across Nigeria.
He said, “No government, be it state or federal, has the capacity to provide food to everyone and let me categorically state that I cannot do more than this. The hardship we are facing is not only in Borno State, but all over Nigeria. There are economic crises in all parts of the world. No state in Nigeria is doing better in the distribution of palliative than Borno.”
While acknowledging the substantial progress in security and development, he made it clear that his government would not tolerate mischievous activities.
The governor urged those contemplating joining the insurgent group to reconsider, stating, “If you think life in the bush is better than living here, you can go,” while he exploding in anger.
