Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, has blamed the death of 43 rice farmers killed by Boko Haram in Zabarmari village of Borno State, on their failure to get military clearance before working on the field.
Shehu said this while speaking to the BBC on the tragic incident that occurred at the weekend.
“The truth has to be said. Was there any military clearance from the military who are in total control of the area? Did anybody ask to resume activity?” Shehu demanded.
The presidential media aide claimed that the farmers did not get the instruction of the Nigerian Army securing that territory before carrying out their farming activities, and as such left the military in the dark before the tragedy struck.
“So ideally, all of these places ought to probably be allowed to pass through proper military clearance before resettlement or even farmers resuming activities on those fields.
“People need to understand what it is like in the Lake Chad Basin area – a window that the terrorists have exploited,” he said.
The massacre of 43 farmers in Borno State at the weekend is one of many insecurity challenges that have continued to ravage the North-East region of the country.
Mr Shehu’s statement seems to reflect the alleged insensitivity of the Presidency to these worsening challenges that have spread to other parts of the country, including the recent kidnapping on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.
Meanwhile, Garba Shehu has come under severe criticism for his comments on the massacre of 43 farmers by terrorists in Borno at the weekend.
Shehu, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), questioned the presence of the slain farmers on the rice farm where the attack took place, while casting doubts that the area had not been cleared by the military for cultivation.
But Nigerians who took to social media to react, did not waste time to come down hard on the Presidential aide for his comments, while many added that it was a clear indication that the government of the day has lost touch with the realities on ground.
@Drmuzoic said, “The people killed at #LekkiMassacre2020 missed curfew. The people killed at #oyibomassacre were supposed to be at home. The people killed during #KadunaMassacre should not have challenged the governor. The people killed at #ZambariMassacre didnt have clearance…..”
@imeyepo_ wrote, “And boko haram is the arm of government that ought to discipline them Thinking face. What are we really going to get right on this country sef Person face-palming. RIP to those who lost their life in the tragic incident.”
@kanurifinest said, “I’m disappointed in this Buhari govt. Pouting face Twerrh.”
@omoodumoye wrote, “We live in a country where lives doesn’t matter. If it was 43 cattles I am sure they would have deployed soldiers. A W E L E Flag of Nigeria Flag of Ghana.”
@ChibuikeEliezer said, “Brother . I’m short of words. The effrontery tho he couldn’t even wait for the families to Finish mourning.”
@McPhersonAzubu2 said, “The action by the federal government to rehabilitate and release them back into the society should be considered as culpability in regards to the latest killings going on in the north. Their actions have placed the lives of Northerners in danger Nd Dey should pay 4 deir actions.”
@adamarollovert1 also wrote, “During #EndSARS peaceful protest, the northern youths kicked against it , they frustrated the movement by attacking the peaceful protesters , looting and destroying properties .. I feel no pity for whatever that’s happening there , it’s their cross let them carry it .. period!!”
@donkingi101 replied, “Wrong assertion. But not the farmers. These farmers live in the fringes of the state, the villages with no access to TV to have heard about endsars. Human beings slaughtered like animals and you post that? Every life matter, whether north or south. We don’t have a govt.”
@gha_zalee: “Useless and heartless beings. Pls stop this kind post cos I don dey laugh since wen I read ur …..the suggest solution is wat they really need cos I don’t kw how we got here by chosen these kind of leaders ..I heard they use to pay the bandit befor farmers can harvest their crops .who do Nigeria no do well.”
@bishopjaykay15: “ Clearance on the same farm they have being cultivating over years? What’s the function of the govt if not to protect lives of its citizens. Can this man just FEM pls.”
@Mhurfhy1I: “hope he got clearance to go to the office today.”
@erelives: “Na ona sabi! So they need military clearance to go their farms. Is it not the responsibility of the government to provide safety and protection of lives and properties.”
@NORMALOBINA: “Useless and clueless government. Always looking for who to blame for its ineptitude.”
@LordJeneral4: “So death is the penalty for not having clearance to farm? Wonderful!”
@LordJeneral4: “It is the job of the military to secure our territory, shifting the blame is just playing mind games.”
@ogunsina_grace: “Are these people mad??? What is clearance to farm, please???Also, is death the punishment for not having clearance to farm? These people continue to hit a new low every day.”
@sheweeh: “These SAs have sold their souls – sometimes I can’t even tell who is more evil between them and their principals! What a statement to make!”
