Defence committee at Mamalari Barracks, lauds military •Why some roads remain closed —Commander

FOR the second time in six months, the House of Representatives Committee on Defence visited the Theatre Command of the Nigerian Army fighting to end the Boko Haram menace in the North-East.

The team, led by Honourable Ali Isa, who represented the chairman, Honourable Aliyu Betera, said it received some petitions about roads shut down by the military and felt that it was pertinent for them to visit the commander, General Lucky Irabo, to find out reasons before debating the issue at the plenary.

According to the leader of delegation, the committee was in Maiduguri based on decision of the House to monitor the progress made by the soldiers, while he also commended the military for a job well done.

Ali noted that the new strategy of taking the battle to the camp of the enemy was commendable, adding that it was decisive to wipe out insurgency from the entire North-East territory of the Nigerian frontier bordering Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The team leader equally commended the civilian JTF for their bravery in the maintenance of peace within the theatre, especially the Borno axis.

He called for more security checkpoints on major highways across the state, adding that such points would help to fish out of the insurgents.

Responding, the theatre commander, General Irabo, said the Gwoza road in question had been opened unofficially but the command did not want to announce that for obvious reasons, stressing that it was clear falsehood for anyone to assume that it was closed to commuters.

He acknowledged that the road was closed due to classified security reasons but had been unofficially open and life had already returned to Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.

Maiduguri, Bama, Banki road is also not open in the real sense, but people ply the route unofficially. Mongunu roads, Dikwa, Marte, Mafa, Gaderam all remain closed. They remain close for special reasons,” he said.