Borno Gov Insists On 6 Things FG Must Do To End Insurgency As Killed Vigilantes Are Buried

The Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, has again called on the federal government to revisit the six recommendations his administration made in order to end Insurgency in the state.

Zulum stated this on Wednesday at the funeral of the vigilantes killed by Boko Haram militants in Konduga Local Government of the state.

The governor restated the recommendations to resolve the insurgency thus:

“One of our recommendations as possible solutions to end the insurgency is the immediate recruitment of our youths into military and paramilitary services to complement the efforts of the Nigerian forces.

“Our second recommendation is to engage the services of our immediate neighbours, especially the government of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic, in clearing the remnants of Boko Haram hiding in the shores of the Lake Chad.

“Our third recommendation is to engage the services of the mercenaries to clear the entire Sambisa forest.

“Our fourth recommendation is to provide the police and the military, with armed resistant armoured personnel carriers and other related equipment.
“We are also soliciting the support of the federal government to support the Borno state repatriation of our displaced persons currently residing in Cameroon and Niger Republic.”

The governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Sports Development, Saina Buba, at the funeral, called on the federal government to implement the 6 recommendations previously submitted to it as a matter of urgency.

According to him, at least seven vigilantes, including their Commander, were killed, while 19 others were injured in bomb attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.

The governor however promised to foot the medical expenses of the injured, while presenting livelihood supports to families of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Maj.-Gen. Abdul Khalifa, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, has presented Christmas gifts to displaced families in Gubio Camp in the Jere Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno.

The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), comprising 6,664 households and 32, 232 individuals, were displaced from Abadam, Kukawa, Monguno, Nganzai, Bama, Konduga, Ngala, Kala Balge and Gwoza LGAs in the aftermath of insurgents attacks in 2015.

Presenting the items to the IDPs, Khalifa, who was represented by Lt.-Col. Andrew Wuyep, Commander of 195 Battalion of the Army, disclosed that the gesture was to celebrate with the displaced families and to put smiles on their faces during the festive period.

He said the event, which witnessed the distribution of foods, drinks, noodles, biscuit and clothes, was also meant to improve civilian-military relationship in the host communities.

He said: “This exercise is in continuation of our efforts geared at winning the hearts and minds of the civil population to support the army’s counter-insurgency campaigns in line with the goals of the Chief of Army Staff.

The Acting GOC reiterated the determination of the Nigerian military to restore lasting peace and normalcy in the North-East.

Responding, Goni Mele, an IDP, commended the army for the show of love by identifying with the displaced families at the time of their needs. Mele prayed to God to make the insurgents, whose activities had led to the deaths and displacement of thousands of Nigerians, to repent and embrace peace.

Ya-Bintu Usman, another IDP, said that the clothes given to her children would keep them warm during the harmattan, adding that it had not been easy being in the camp.