The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says Nigeria is at the mercy of Boko Haram because the country has been denied weapons to fight the dreaded terrorists group.
Nigeria has been seeking help on arms purchase from foreign countries.
Suspected Boko Haram members attacked Zabarmari, about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, at the weekend, killing over 110 farmers according to UN report.
The attack was described by the United Nations as “ the most violent attack” targeted at civilians in 2020.
Speaking on Monday during a courtesy visit to Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, the minister described the killings in Borno as an unfortunate event.
“When we talk about terrorism, people don’t seem to appreciate that terrorism is not a local issue, it is a global issue and there is no part of the world that doesn’t experience its own pocket of terrorism,” Mohammed said.
He said Nigeria needs global support to win the war.
“But you must also note that we are dealing with terrorists who are financed globally and we also need more support from global partners. For instance, Nigeria has made an attempt to acquire a better and more effective platform to deal with terrorists but for one reason or the other we have been denied this platform, these weapons and without adequate weapons or platform we remain at the mercy of terrorists,” the minister said.
“You see fighting terrorists is not a joke because what actually happened in Borno State is unfortunate but you must also look at the strategy of the terrorists.
“Terrorists use media and publicity as oxygen, so when they go on this kind of mindless killing of people. It is not that the government is not doing enough. Terrorism whether in Afghanistan or anywhere in the world has the same concept, a group of people who are extremist in their thoughts who don’t think that you and me should be alive.”
Meanwhile, the factional leader of Boko Haram insurgents, Abubakar Shekau has confirmed that his group was responsible for the killing of rice farmers in Kwashebe Zabarmari axis of Jere Local government Area of Borno State.
Shekau, in a three-minute video released on Tuesday, said his group killed 78 farmers because “the farmers arrested and handed one of its brothers to the Nigerian Army.”
The group also warned that those arresting their members and giving out intelligence on their activities to the military will face the same fate if they did not desist from doing so.
“The third message is on those who notoriously nab our brethren and hand them to the military or give them a clue on us, you should know that, unless you repent, what happened to your people is awaiting you.” he said.