A federal government delegation led by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State on Monday on a condolence visit over the gruesome killing of 43 rice farmers on Saturday by Boko Haram terrorists as The Presidency said the farmers died because they did not have military clearance before going to their rice farms.
Members of the delegation include Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Ministers of Federal Capital Territory (Mohammed Bello), Communications and Digital Economy (Ali Pantami) and Minister of State for Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri.
Others include National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno(rtd) and Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu.
The delegation, who were received on arrival at the airport by the Borno State Deputy Governor, Usman Umar Gadafu, were in Borno, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government, to commiserate and identify with the family of the victims, the Government and the people of Borno State over the incident.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said that “the government is sad that this tragic incident has happened. 43 or thereabout of innocent farm workers, most of them had their throats slit by a heartless band of terrorists. People need to know what it is like in the Lake Chad Basin area.
“Much of those areas have been liberated from Boko Haram terrorists. But there are a number of spaces that have not been cleared for the return of villagers who have been displaced. So, ideally, all of these places ought to pass the test of military clearances before farmers or settlers resume activities on those fields.”
When asked if he was not blaming the farmers for going to the area, Shehu responded, “Not exactly. But the truth has to be said. Was there any clearance by the military which is in total control of those areas? Did anybody ask to resume activity? I have been told by the military leaders that they had not been so advised and certainly, therefore, it was a window that the terrorists exploited.”
The Presidential Spokesperson added: “The military is not present in every inch of space in that area. Even if the people are willing to go back, a lot of those areas have been mined and mine clearance needs to be carried out and those areas must be cast as being OK for human habitation or agricultural activity.”