Buhari Returns To Borno More Than One Year After He Was Booed

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital for a one-day visit.

According Governor Babagana Zulum, President Buhari is in the state to “appraise” the state’s security situation and commission some projects.

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The president last visited the state on February 12, 2020, while returning from a trip to Addis Ababa. The visit was to condole with the family of those killed by insurgents at a military check point in Auno, Konduga LGA.

Residents had booed the president on his arrival due to the deteriorating security in the state.

But today’s visit is coming nearly one and half years later when it is believed the situation has slightly stabilized.

But some retired and serving security personnel who spoke to THE WHISTLER on the visit said it is a welcomed development and would boost the morale of fighting troops and help to reassure the people of the state that they have not been forgotten.

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General Abdulganiu Adewale (rtd) said the visit is good for the military operation in the North East.

“The president cannot stand aloof when the country is at war with insurgents; his visit will boost the morale of the troops,” he said.

A former Police AIG, Austin Iwar, said the president just appointed new military leaders that are supposed to be handling issues in Borno State, adding that the President’s visit will “achieve so much.”

He said: “First of all, it will boost their morale, give them assurance and even for the indigenes of the state, it’s going to make them feel that after all they have not been forgotten by the president.

“The governor too will feel more confident that the president is visiting — because of the peculiar situation they find themselves.

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“So, it is a welcome visit. This is what we expect from the president if the security allows it; he can go and give people assurances and talk with them.”

It is unclear whether the president will visit other places outside Maiduguri, but movement has been restricted in the state capital.

However, it may be unwise for the president to move out of the state capital in view of the precarious security situation.

According to Iwar, the president’s safety is important and he must not be exposed to danger.

“I won’t expect the president to move out of Maiduguri town to any other place because of safety.

“We know very well that these terrorists or militants are everywhere so, you have to be very careful and secondly, it will be nice if he visits one of the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP), camps and listen them, and give them confidence.

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“You can imagine what the atmosphere will be like when the president walks into an IDP camp, they will feel that they have not been forgotten by government.”

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