The Borno State Government is planning to rebuild the librated Malam-Fatori town which was deserted seven years ago after continuous attacks by insurgents.
Most of the residents sought refuge in Bosso and Diffa in the Niger Republic where they stayed as refugees since 2014.
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Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Friday, visited Malam-Fatori, headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area, located in the fringes of Lake Chad in northern Borno.
A statement, signed by the governor’s special adviser, Malam Isa Gusau, said the visit was meant to start “preparing the liberated Boko Haram stronghold for reconstruction and safe return of refugees, who since 2014, fled the town to Boss and Diffa in the Niger Republic.”
Zulum approved 10 patrol vehicles to enhance security surveillance and held an interactive meeting with the commanding officer of the 68 Battalion in Malam-Fatori to identity areas the Borno government could offer support.
The governor directed the State Rural Water Supply Agency to drill deep aquifer boreholes within the military barracks, to address the problem of access to water supply faced by the soldiers.
Speaking to troops, Zulum commended their commitment and encouraged them to be steadfast in their efforts to clear remnants of the insurgents hibernating around Malam-Fatori.
The governor later assessed infrastructures destroyed by insurgents in the town, which were to be reconstructed before December.
Zulum moved to Malam-Fatori from Diffa where he had been on Thursday, during which he held a high-level collaborative meeting with President Bazoum Mohammed of the Niger Republic, over the safe and voluntary evacuation of the Nigerian refugees.
Zulum announced that a relocation committee would be constituted to oversee reconstruction works and come up with a relocation plan.
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