Boko Haram: Nigerian military to reopen key Borno roads after 3 years —Shettima

Governor Kash-im Shettima of Borno State said, on Thursday, that the Nigerian military was poised to re-open the Maiduguri-Magumeri-Gubio and Damasak roads.

Shettima made this known when the Governor of Difa, Republic of Niger, Muhammad Dandano, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Maiduguri.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the roads had remained closed to vehicular traffic since 2013 when Boko Haram activities in Borno State were at their peak.

He said the state government would commence reconstruction of Damasak in 2017 to enable inhabitants of the area to return to their homes.

“Rebuilding Damasak is our priority.

“The Borno Abadam, Mobar and Magumeri people are rich farmers; they do not need any help if you return them to their communities.

“We commend the Republic of Niger for hosting about 90,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs),” said Shettima.

Speaking, Dandano said his country had continued to give its maximum support to victims of violence displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.

Dandano said IDPs from Nigeria were at the moment living peacefully and going about their normal socio-economic activities in Difa.

“We are giving the IDPs our maximum support as many of them have taken up farming and other ventures.

“When you go there, you will hardly differentiate between an IDP from Nigeria from a Nigerien.

“We have also issued birth certificates to the children, who were born in Niger to enable them to have an identity,’’ said Dandano.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Airforce  has  established a regiment unit in Jos, the Plateau State capital,  to be manned by 450 personnel comprising 400 men and 50 officers.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the establishment of the regiment unit was part of the efforts of the Federal Government at ensuring adequate security and prompt response to insecurity and crisis.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,  who disclosed this during an operational visit to Jos, said the special unit was set up after conducting a threat analysis of several locations in the country.

He  further disclosed that  similar units would be set up in Gusau, Zamfara State and Owerri, the Imo State capital, to combat emerging threats of cattle theft and armed banditry in those areas.

Air Marshal Abubakar, who was at the Plateau State Government House, informed Governor Simon Lalong that six units of three bedroom officers’ accommodation, as well as two blocks of six by two and six by one bedroom accommodations were ready for commissioning.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Lalong,  who was visibly excited about the new regiment unit, assured the Chief of Air Staff of government’s support in terms of provision of land for that purpose.