Fayose slams Buhari over his belated response to Boko Haram's killing of soldiers in Borno State

FORMER Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari over his belated reaction to the recent killing at least 44 soldiers by Boko Haram terrorists at  Metele in Borno State last week.

On Monday, insurgents attacked the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, in Guzamak Local Government Area of Borno State, killing the soldiers and about seven local farmers. Also, a large cache of arms, ammunition and military equipment were reportedly carted away by Boko Haram fighters during the raid.

It took President Buhari nearly a week to comment on the attack as he did not speak on it until yesterday, whereas on Thursday the Nigerian senate suspended its plenary session in honour of the troops. Yesterday, President Buhari finally responded to the attack, expressing deep shock over the killing of the military personnel.

In his broadcast, he assured Nigerians that immediate measures were being taken to ensure that the loopholes, which led to the fatalities were blocked once and for all. Responding to the president's announcement, Governor Fayose queried the late response and urged Nigerians to reject President Buhari’s re-election bid in 2019.

Governor Fayose said: “Nigeria and its people must reject a commander-in-chief who will wait for four days to express shock over the brutal killing of over 100 of his soldiers. His time is up

“If it were to be issues concerning his re-election bid, he will be aware immediately and deploy the necessary agencies of government but on the killing of over 100 of our soldiers by Boko Haram, our president was not aware until about 7pm yesterday and they said he was shocked. His time is up."

There have been conflicting reports over the number of casualties, with figures ranging from 44 to 100. So far, the Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official figure by chief of army staff Lt General Tukur Buratai has threatened to sue those media outlets who publish false figures.