'Diversion of arms fund is a crime against humanity', governor says

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December 28, 2015 6:55 AM

“The revelations from dasuki have shown that some sections of the northern political class and their children were all involved in this massive crime against humanity”.

Kashim Shettima, Governor of Borno State

Kashim Shettima, Governor of Borno State, in a meeting with Ladan Salihu, the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria called for a speedy trial of those involved in the diversion of the arms funds which led to the sustenance of insurgency in the North-Eastern States of Nigeria.

Governor Shettima said that the recent revelations of the involvement of high profile individuals such as Col. Dasuki Sambo, Former National Security Adviser in the alleged diversion of $2bn arms fund, is proof that a part of the northern political class was behind the insurgency.

Read: Civilians reported dead in Boko Haram clash in Maiduguri

Governor Shettima told Ladan Salihu last week when Ladan paid him a visit in Maiduguri.

Borno State has been vulnerable to several attacks from book haram and month’s back Governor Shettima expressed his fear that the book haram sect seemed to be winning because they were better equipped.

He said, “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”

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The newly elected president Mohammadu Buhari on his appointment raised a panel to investigate Nigeria’s arms purchases from 2007-2015. The panel submitted a report that has involved a number of high profile Nigerians like former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, former PDP chairman Haliru Mohammed and His son Abbah Mohhamed, former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and many more in the diversion of the arms fund.

Governor Shittima said “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, then, expressed happiness that security in the state had improved in recent times. And most of the local government that were previously taken over by Boko Haram has been recovered.

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