By Dada Ahmed
The Governor of Borno state, Prof.Babagana Zulum, whose back up security personnel were attacked by Boko Haram, has urged the people of the state not to be discouraged by the unfortunate development but keep hope alive for the return of peace to North East.
He made the appeal in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Isa Gusau in Maiduguri on Saturday.
The Governor, who expressed sadness over the death of 11 of his back up security men during the attack, described them as “priceless heroes” and prayed for the repose souls of the affected security personnel.
He said:”The situation facing us is a tough one but we must choose between doing something which gives us some hope and doing nothing which will leave us more vulnerable to Boko Haram’s ultimate wish to takeover Borno and bring it under their sovereign brutal administration.
“We must continue to keep hope alive, even in the face of tribulations and believe that with sustained efforts and prayers, Borno will eventually regain peace.”
The Reporters, an online publication, gathered that 11 security personnel,made up of eight policemen and three civilian JTF members were ambushed on their way to Baga town with Zulum on an official assignment on Friday morning.
Baga town was attacked and its residents displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents 21 months ago, with most of the residents taking refuge in Monguno and Maiduguri.
The governor was said to have embarked on the to supervise efforts aimed at returning residents to the town.
According to Gusau, the tour was part of the strategies to cut Boko haram’s long use of the commercial town as main transit for undertaking major fishing trade and tax administration from which the insurgents fund their activities.
Baga, Borno’s largest fishing community in the shores of the Lake Chad with water ways to neighboring countries, is considered strategic to Boko haram’s operation.
Gusau said two convoys- one belonging to the governor and another for a committee on Baga reconstruction had safely plied the Maiduguri-Baga route the previous days before the third convoy of security men was ambushed on Friday morning, adding that adequate security was made for the tour.
“Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is saddened by this unfortunate carnage. He shares the grief of families of these 11 priceless heroes to whom Borno shall remain grateful.
“The governor prays for the repose of their souls and urges all stakeholders to remain committed to ongoing peace building efforts,”he added.
The online outfit gathered that the Governor’s convoy comprised of Senators and members of the House of Representatives representing the area in the state at the National Assembly (NASS).
Others were the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, the Chairman of Baga resettlement committee and the Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Kaka Shehu Lawan.
Gusau said while on tour of the construction work going on in Baga, Zulum commended the resettlement committee for the quality and speed of work.
The Zulum had on August 31, 2020 inaugurated a resstlmeent committee with the mandate to commence immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Baga.
