The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar El-Kanemi, on Tuesday said Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, is presently playing host to about two million Internally Displaced Persons, who have been rendered homeless by the Boko Haram terrorist group.
The Shehu also lamented that currently, only two first class emirs were still staying in their domains as five others had fled to Maiduguri to seek refuge.
The monarch said this during the presentation of his Permanent Voters Card to him by the Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Samuel Madaki.
“We have about two million IDPs in Maiduguri; our people were displaced and their houses were burnt. They have been made to go through this after wanton destruction (of their homes).
“Palaces were taken over by insurgents. We have five emirs residing in Maiduguri; we only have two emirs still in their domains”, said El-Kanemi, without giving the source of his information.
The Shehu also used the occasion to debunk the impression that the Boko Haram insurgency had its roots in Borno State.
“This problem was not initiated here but was brought to us from one of our sister states. The problem was brought on us and taken to neighbouring states and gradually it has found its way into neighbouring countries.
“We have been made to live in fear. We are encircled by insurgents and it is so sad that getting out of Maiduguri is difficult. You can hardly travel 10 kilometers from here without being attacked.
“The only safe passage cannot really be said to be safe as there are pockets of attacks on the route, Maiduguri-Kano highway”.
He, however, pleaded with the electoral body to ensure that the IDPs within Maiduguri were not disenfranchised.
According to him, was no fault of theirs that they had to flee their homelands and everything must be done to ensure that they were allowed to vote during the forthcoming polls.
In his remarks, the REC said the PVCs that had yet to be brought to the state would be delivered before the end of the week.
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