BOKO HARAM: Shekau Claims 78 Farmers Were Killed, Reps Divided Over Invitation Of Buhari

Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, in a video released on Tuesday, said at least 78 farmers were killed in Jere local government area of Borno state.

Shekau says the group is responsible for the killing of farmers in Borno state.

The Farmers were killed after Boko Haram attacked them at Zabarmari community.

Babagana Zulum, governor of the state, had said 43 residents were killed while they were working on their farmlands.

He said his men went after the farmers because they handed over a member of the sect to the Nigerian army.

Shekau said those giving out intelligence on Boko Haram activities to the military will face the same fate.

The killing has been widely condemned within and outside Nigeria, with the United Nations describing it as the “most violent attack” affecting civilians in 2020.

Earlier on Tuesday, the senate had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the “overstayed” service chiefs, while the house of representatives in a move to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to brief the House of Representatives on the security situation in the country as a result of the recent killing of farmers in Borno state sharply divided the House of Representatives.

The motion of urgent national importance sponsored by lawmakers from Borno state had one its initial prayers as the invitation of the President.

But while presenting the motion, Lead sponsor, Ahmed Santomi excluded the prayer, but rather asked for the declaration not a state of emergency on security situation in the country.

However, coming under matters of privilege, one of the sponsors, Hon. Ahmed Haha expressed displeasure that the prayer was excluded after it was collectively agreed by the sponsors, insisting that the prayer be included and the President invited to brief the House.

Efforts by the Speaker to make him withdraw the prayer which came in form of amendment failed as he insisted that all members from Borno state who are sponsors of the motion should agree on that first.

The Speaker said because of the nature of security issues, it will not be ideal to invite the President because security matters cannot be discussed in public, stressing however that the issue of declaring a state of emergency will allow for the use of extra measures in tackling the issue.

Tempers began to flare when the House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa said security issues were too delicate to bring to the floor of the House, while Hon. Shehu Koko said the Leadership of the House should interface with the President instead on the issue.

Both Hon. Doguwa and Shehu Koko were both shouted down by the members with shout of no, no, no.

However, Gbajabiamila expressed disappointment over the behaviour of his colleagues.