Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has appealed to the Federal Government and the military authorities to deploy soldiers to border communities in Borno State such as Kirawa, Wulgo, Baga, Damasak, Malam Fatori, among others, considering their economic importance to the State and the country in general.
Zulum made the appeal on Friday when he visited Kirawa community in Gwoza local government area of the State to sympathise with members of the community following Monday night attack where two persons died after Boko Haram terrorists burnt the house of the district head of Kirawa, as well as burning over 50 houses and vehicles, including heavy duty equipment.
The governor, during his sympathy visit to the effected people, promised to rehabilitate all the burnt houses, rebuild the burnt dispensary to a befitting General Hospital and look into the possibility of compensating the victims whose houses and shops were burnt.
He said after a closed-door meeting with the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), they all agreed that within the shorted period of time soldiers would be deployed to Kirawa.
The governor regretted that his previous notification of the Nigerian military of the dangers of leaving the border communities without security as well as his request for deployment of troops to the communities did not receive desired attention.
“Kirawa was established about seven years ago with the support of the Cameroonian soldiers, but unfortunately, some months ago, the Cameroonian soldiers were displaced by the insurgents. I have duly notified the Nigerian military of the dangers of leaving the border towns without security.
“Wulgo, Kirwa, Baga, Damasak, Malam Fatori, among others, are border communities that have to be protected because of their importance. But unfortunately, my request for their protection did not receive the desired attention.
“Some few days ago, the terrorists came to Kirawa and vandalised everything. Fortunately enough, only two lives were lost. But some houses and vehicles, including heavy duty equipment, were burnt down, but thank God not much lives were lost.
“I want to assure the people of Kirawa that we will rebuild the burnt dispensary to a befitting General Hospital. Aside that, we will rehabilitate all the houses that were burnt, and look into the possibility of compensating members of the communities that have been affected by the destructions,” Zulum said.
The governor urged the youths in the community to expose terrorists’ collaborators in their midst and join hands with security agencies in protecting their community.
He promised to offer jobs to youths in the community with educational qualifications as well as empowering women.
The district head of the community, Abdulrahaman Abubakar, appreciated Governor Zulum for coming to sympathise with them over the attack and promised that the people, in collaboration with security agents and the Civilian Joint Task, will join hands with the military in protecting the community.
