Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state has spoken about the arms deal scandal, which is known as Dasukigate.
Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, is facing a trial
for allegedly diverting security funds meant to equip the Nigerian army
to fight the insurgency. Some other prominent Nigerians are also being
prosecuted for their roles in Dasukigate.
Commenting on the arms scandal, Shettima stressed that it was a crime against humanity and described the money meant to buy arms to fight Boko Haram but which went into private pockets as “blood money”.
“This is blood money. What is the difference between all the revelations and the blood money (blood diamond) in Liberia and Sierra Leone and Congo? The money meant to prosecute the war on terror was inhumanly diverted while thousands of civilians and soldiers were killed,” he said.
The Sun reports that the governor expressed his opinion while hosting Ladan Salihu, the director-general of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, at the weekends in Maiduguri.
Speaking about the security situation in Borno, the governor revealed that only two local government areas are not completely accessible as they are still being controlled by the Boko Haram sect.
“Six months ago, all the entry points into Maiduguri were inaccessible except to Kano.
“Months ago when I raised the issue of Boko Haram insurgency, I was called names and vilified, but I had to dare the tiger. I told the world what we were going through then in Maiduguri.
“I know by speaking out, I would face dire consequences, but I had the mandate of over six million people of Borno state to tell the world what was happening,” he said.
Shettima recalled that a few months ago it was impossible to move 10 kilometres outside Maiduguri and 20 local government areas were under the terrorists’ control.
A few days ago, the governor donated 30 sports utility vehicles to aid “Operation Dole Lafia,” the code name for the military’s counter-insurgency operations.
While presenting the vehicles worth N304 million, Shettima noted the state government was determined to continue assisting troops in their fight against the Boko Haram sect.
According to Governor Shettima, the arms scandal is a crime against humanity.
Commenting on the arms scandal, Shettima stressed that it was a crime against humanity and described the money meant to buy arms to fight Boko Haram but which went into private pockets as “blood money”.
“This is blood money. What is the difference between all the revelations and the blood money (blood diamond) in Liberia and Sierra Leone and Congo? The money meant to prosecute the war on terror was inhumanly diverted while thousands of civilians and soldiers were killed,” he said.
The Sun reports that the governor expressed his opinion while hosting Ladan Salihu, the director-general of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, at the weekends in Maiduguri.
Speaking about the security situation in Borno, the governor revealed that only two local government areas are not completely accessible as they are still being controlled by the Boko Haram sect.
“Six months ago, all the entry points into Maiduguri were inaccessible except to Kano.
“Months ago when I raised the issue of Boko Haram insurgency, I was called names and vilified, but I had to dare the tiger. I told the world what we were going through then in Maiduguri.
“I know by speaking out, I would face dire consequences, but I had the mandate of over six million people of Borno state to tell the world what was happening,” he said.
Shettima recalled that a few months ago it was impossible to move 10 kilometres outside Maiduguri and 20 local government areas were under the terrorists’ control.
A few days ago, the governor donated 30 sports utility vehicles to aid “Operation Dole Lafia,” the code name for the military’s counter-insurgency operations.
While presenting the vehicles worth N304 million, Shettima noted the state government was determined to continue assisting troops in their fight against the Boko Haram sect.
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