Senator representing Borno South in the Senate, Mohammad Ndume said the Boko Haram attack in his hometown, Gwoza, on election day prevented many voters from exercising their franchise.
Ndume in an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday at his residence in Maiduguri said only about 20,000 out of the 137,000 registered voters, voted in the last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Senator now elected for the fourth consecutive time, appreciated the confidence bestowed on him by the people of his constituent, promising that he will sustain the delivery of dividends of democracy, even as he extended an olive branch to his opponents who could not make it in the keen contest.
He said Boko Haram attacked the town while elections were going on, targeting a primary school, INEC office and another polling unit.
He however expressed satisfaction on the quick intervention by the military. He said the military responded by firing back at the terrorists which created the atmosphere for voting to continue.
He lauded electorates for giving him the fourth mandate, even as he called on those who could not make it to carry- the -cross in order to better the lives of southern Borno people irrespective of tribe, religion, political or ethnic sentiments.
“I want to thank the military for their bravery. They told us to calm down and assured us they will clear Boko Haram within 30 minutes and it didn’t take them more than an hour. I think they should also be commended for the use of technology which helped to get the location of Boko Haram on the hill,” he disclosed.
He equally commended the voters for their courage despite all odds including the failure of the BVAS to work