Imagery obtained by NewsRescue of the campaign rally of President Goodluck Jonathan in Boko Haram torn Borno state Nigeria show a greater army presence than that of civilians.
Shadow of Baga Holocaust
President Jonathan failed to comment on or condemn the recent massacre of over 2500 civilians at Baga, a predominantly Muslim town in northeast Nigeria. His government is known for its lackluster and lackadaisical attitude including his failure to acknowledge, and even claims by his military of releasing all but 8 of 234 abducted girls from a Chibok school in a predominantly Christian village.
The people of Borno are not expected to be interested in his campaign and attendees despite being heavily sponsored are in short supply.
Thousands of Soldiers Deployed To Borno Ahead of President’s Campaign
Meanwhile people are reacting that there are (thousands of) military men well armed every five feet and the state has been shut down. They say that the numbers of soldiers drafted to secure the president’s visit are enough to have defeated Boko Haram had such been drafted for that purpose.
With campaign slogan “VOW to do more,” the people ask, to do more what? Killing? Looting? Corruption or Impunity?, they ask. The temperature is quite hot.
- Related: NewsRescue–Nigerian Women Being Raped, People Being Enslaved In Baga—Escapee
Governor Calls For Restraint
The Borno governor Shettima of the APC party has called on the good people of Borno not to attack and pelt the president. Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign group were recently pelted in to of his ruling PDP party governed states, Katsina and Bauchi.
The president as we reported was booed last week when he visited the same state in a visit that was said to be a ‘priming’ show of face to allow him the ‘temerity’ to come campaign today.
Boko Haram Kills 15 Including Village Head As Jonathan Campaigns
Boko Haram gunmen killed 15 people including a village leader near Maiduguri, the heartland of the Islamist group blamed for thousands of deaths in its six-year insurgency, security sources and residents said Saturday.
“The terrorists attacked Kambari village which is less than five kilometres to Maiduguri around 5:00 am. They killed 15 people and set the entire hamlet ablaze,” the security source who requested anonymity said of the attack on Friday.
