Garba Shehu asks whether farmers killed by Boko Haram were given military approval before resuming farming

Presidential Speaker Garba Shehu responded to the murder of scores of farmers in the village of Zabarmari by asking whether the victims were given military clearance before farming resumed.

This was what Mr. Shehu said while speaking to BBC Newsday on Sunday, November 29, hours after the gruesome killings.

Garba Shehu said that the government was sad about the tragic incident, but added that “people need to understand what it is like in the Lake Chad Basin area.”

He insisted that much of the region has been liberated from the terrorists of Boko Haram, but said there are still some areas that have not been cleared for the return of displaced villagers.

He continued: “It is necessary to tell the truth. Was there any military clearance from the army that is in total control of the area?”

“Did anybody ask to resume activity?”

Mr. Shehu said he had been informed by military authorities that before exposing himself to a window that the terrorists have exploited.” the villagers did not seek military advice.

“So ideally, all of these places ought to probably be allowed to pass through proper military clearance before resettlement or even farmers resuming activities on those fields.”So ideally, before resettlement or even farmers resuming activities on those fields, all of these locations should probably be allowed to pass through proper military clearance.

His statement comes only hours after at least 43 rice farmers were slaughtered by Boko Haram terrorists while they were working on their farms.