Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, has told the Federal government to urgently tame the growing threat posed by the militant group – Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) – describing it as deadlier than Boko Haram insurgents.
He sounded the warning at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on rehabilitation plans by the Presidential Committee on Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of IDPs in the North east.
He said: “This is an early warning system. We shouldn’t allow ISWAP to grow. ISWAP is more sophisticated, more funded and more educated. We should do everything possible to defeat ISWAP; otherwise, what Boko Haram did will be a child’s play.
“The Nigerian Army has to re-strategise and defeat ISWAP. ISWAP will be a threat to the entire nation. Because of the proximity of Sub-Saharan Africa, they are coming from Libya and others to resettle here.”
He advised the Federal government to engage the services of mercenaries, stressing: “There’s nothing wrong. There’s need to seek external support, while effort is ongoing to sanitise the security structure.”
Zulum said the North east has lost about $6.9 billion to terrorism. He noted that over 5000 classrooms were destroyed, while 900,000 homes were burnt down. He also said 713 energy distribution centres and 1600 public water sources were destroyed.