Borno State Government, on Friday, in a statement, said Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has visited the border town of Damasak which was attacked six times in two weeks by insurgents where he donated hardware to security forces.
The latest attack happened on Tuesday when insurgents killed 18 persons and injured 21 others. Some residents reportedly fled to the neighbouring Niger Republic.
Zulum travelled alongside Senator Abubakar Kyari representing Borno North, a native of Damasak, and some officials.
Special adviser to the governor, Malam Isa Gusau, said in the statement that Zulum held a meeting with soldiers and other security forces during the visit after which he presented 12 operational vehicles which included an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and 11 patrol vehicles.
The donations were aimed at strengthening the capacity of the security forces and volunteer groups in the theatre of war against the insurgents.
“Damasak, headquarter of Mobbar Local Government Area in northern Borno, is located in the fringes of Lake Chad, and shares border with communities in the Niger Republic.
“The town used to be producer and exporter of vegetables to target markets within Nigeria, Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.
“Insurgents had occupied Damasak in 2014 as one of their caliphates, and the insurgents seem interested in the town, apparently for strategic access to raising funds through agriculture and for land routes to the Niger Republic,” the statement clarified.
The governor, who spent a day in the town, interacted with residents, empathized with them and assessed destructions caused by insurgents.
Thousands of residents, who had fled to border communities in the Niger Republic, returned on Friday, Gusau said.
The UN humanitarian hub, private residential houses, a police station, palace of the district head, a primary healthcare centre, and mobile phone shops were among the properties destroyed.
The insurgents attacked the town with three gun trucks, residents told Governor Zulum.
