Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Sunday travelled to Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge Local Government Area, to commiserate with mourning communities and families of 32 metal scavengers killed by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters last week.
It will be recalled that 32 persons from Kala-Balge were ambushed and killed at a deserted Mudu village in Dikwa Local Government Area, which is located about 45 kilometres from Rann.
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The governor urged residents to desist from going to deserted villages, especially to scavenge for metals because insurgents were in search of the same materials and could lay ambush.
“The insurgents and their collaborators used to scavenge for metals and other abandoned household materials in deserted villages. These serve as raw materials for their fabrications. I urge you to desist from going to such places,” Zulum said.
The governor during the visit held a meeting with Captain Mohammed Haruna Jibrin, the military’s commanding officer in Kala-Balge, involved with ongoing operations against insurgents.
While in Kala-Balge, the governor inspected essential public facilities and announced a 100% increase in salaries of health personnel resident in Rann General Hospital.
“Any health worker that is willing to work here, we will double his or her salary and we will, Insha Allah, make sure that there is a routine shift to allow them to visit their families.”
Zulum also gave a two months deadline for the reopening of the completed hospital and schools as well as the completion of any ongoing projects in Rann.
The Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Works, Goni Dunoma, had earlier explained to the governor that officials could not complete some ongoing projects because of difficulties in accessing the town.
