Those who shared arms money are sponsors of Boko Haram - Borno Elders

According to Borno Elders Forum, beneficiaries of the controversial dasukigate should be held accountable for sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Chairman of the forum
Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari said this on Thursday in a statement issued after a meeting in which the elders threw their weight behind President Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

In the statement titled: ‘Beneficiaries of ‘arms deal’ are sponsors of Boko Haram’, the elders said that those who diverted money intended to fund the war against insurgency are Boko Haram sponsors.

“The people who deliberately turned away from their official responsibilities on security issues, or those who looted the funds meant for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram and those who spoke or continue to speak in their favour are all one and the same.

“They all individually and collectively aided and sponsored the Boko Haram insurgency.

“They colluded to ensure the death of our brave soldiers, our innocent people and the near total destruction of our society. Nigerians should stand by us and collectively assist to bring those responsible to book. It does not speak well of any Nigerian, for whatever reason, to fight or criticise the President of Nigeria or call our anti–corruption agencies names when they simply want to make offenders pay for the crimes most of them have confessed to have committed.

“Those who collected such huge sums of money from the national treasury and converted same for their unending greed and avarice, should be regarded as part and parcel of the sponsors of Boko Haram. Get them and you will get the rest.

“We feel hurt and betrayed that some Nigerians are politicising this despicable issue of arms deal.

“Nigerians should allow the federal government and its relevant agencies to bring to book all those found to be involved in any act of omission or commission,” the statement said.