Insurgency: Zulum Reviews Progress In Darajamal Housing Rehabilitation

Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has on Sunday concluded his two- day tour to some frontline locations in southern and central parts of the state with the assessment of the ongoing rehabilitation of about 150 houses destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists at Darajamal community in Bama local government area of Borno State.

LEADERSHIP reports that in the Darajamal attack, 63 people comprising 58 civilians and five soldiers were killed by the terrorists who burnt down the houses and rendered over 1000 household homeless.

Governor Zulum had also visited Kirawa community in Gwoza local government area where the terrorists had carried out attacks , before the last Monday night’s attack , where the insurgents burnt down the palace of the district head, including about 50 shops and houses alongside heavy equipment the State government was using to grade the dilapidated Kirawa road.

He had also visited Banki town in Bama local government area where he sympathised with the community over the recent attack by the terrorists which claimed some lives with destruction of property .

Speaking at Maiyanti , a neighboring community to Darajamal where about 500 housing units and non permanent shelters are being constructed for the resettlement of displaced persons in communities in Bama local government area, Governor Zulum, revealed that preparations are underway to resettle Kumshe, Mayinti and Tarmuwa, all in Bama.

He commended the workers on the site in Darajamal promising that funds would be released to them for early completion of the rehabilitation work, and noted that the construction of 500 housing units in Maiyanti community was part of the efforts of his administration to ensure that all formal internally displaced persons ( IDPs ) camps in Borno State are closed.

He said apart from the permanent structures, the semi permanent structures are being constructed in both communities because both Darajamal and Maiyanti would host those from the adjoining communities.

The governor noted that the idea is that after one or two years, those from the adjoining communities would return back to their ancestral homes.

He added that hospitals and mosques would be constructed in the two communities , saying that funds would be made available for the completion of the projects.

On the Banki General Hospital which was destroyed by terrorists, Governor Zulum said he had discussions with the Chief Medical Director ( CMD ) of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital ( UMTH ), which was running the hospital prior to the destruction, adding that the State government would reconstruct the hospital, hoping for the federal government to deploy local staff to the hospital for the health needs of the people of Banki.

He commended UNHCR for partnering the state in the reconstruction of 500 housing units in Banki ,as well as a vocational training centre, saying that the overall essence of the tour was to visit the frontline locations to build the resilience of the people of the communities attacked by the terrorists, and boost the morale of the troops ,members of the Civilian Joint Task Force ( CJTF ) , hunters and vigilantes in the affected communities.