Sadique Abubakar, governorship candidate of the All Progressive People’s Party (APC) in Bauchi state, said on Channels Television The Verdict that Boko Haram had control over more than 22 local governments under the previous national government.
The governorship candidate was invited by the Television station on Thursday, February 9, 2023, where he spoke about his political ambition, the current state of the nation, and security, amongst others.
Speaking about the achievements of the APC in the last eight years, Abubakar said the party has made a difference in security, stating that prior to 2015 when the APC came into power, more than 22 local government areas (LGAs) were under the control of insurgents.
“There were over 22 local governments which were under the control of insurgents… Gwoza, the emir palace was the capital of the caliphate (of Boko haram). But today the emir is in his palace,” Abubakar said.
Were over 22 local governments under the control of insurgents before 2015?
The year 2014 was the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Adamawa states. The Boko Haram insurgency started in Maiduguri in the heart of Borno state many years ago and spread to neighbouring states of Yobe, Bauchi, and Adamawa.
It’s also true that many local government areas of these states were, at some point in time, captured by Boko Haram, such that by the beginning of 2015, many local government areas were officially under the control of Boko Haram. But how many were they?
In 2015, Reuters reported that Boko Haram controlled 20 local government areas in Nigeria, a territory the size of Belgium.
Similarly, a report published by Human Rights Watch, Nigeria reported that Boko Haram had seized control of 17 LGAs as of the beginning of 2015, across parts of the northeast in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe states.
Also recall that in 2015, when President Buhari spoke at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, he criticised the Nigerian army for not being able to secure the nation against Boko Haram.
The President said there were 14 local government areas lost to Boko haram control, which he termed “a big disgrace”.
Conclusion
Although the data varies, it is true that some local government areas were controlled by Boko Haram prior to 2015. But at no time were up to 22 LGAs or more under the control of Boko Haram as claimed by Sadique Abubakar. Therefore, the claim is false.
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