President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the ambush on entourage of Governor Umar Babagana Zulum of Borno State, which led to the death of security men and some operatives of Civilian-JTF.
President Buhari, in a statement issued Saturday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, described the attack, on Maiduguri-Baga route, as an orchestrated sabotage against long planned return of displaced persons to their local communities.
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The President, who expressed “deep sympathy” over the loss of lives of security men on the convoy, ahead of the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), condoled with their families and loved ones.
Buhari advised the government of Borno State, working with security and intelligence agencies, to remain firm in their determination to restore normalcy to all communities liberated from Boko Haram terrorists.
He also urged security and intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to check sabotage, sanitize the roads, venues and locations well in advance of returning IDPs, while working closely with local communities.
The President lauded the gallantry of service personnel who repelled the deadly ambush, as well the sincere determination of Governor Zulum, who has been working with armed forces to end the menace of terrorists, rebuild homes and return IDPs to regular life.
He prayed that God will grant the souls of the departed security men and operatives of Civilian-JTF eternal rest, and comfort their families.
- Zulum is pained by deaths
Zulum has said that he was saddened by the killing of 11 security personnel made up of eight policemen and three Civilian JTF members ambushed on their way to Baga as security backup in reconstruction efforts.
The governor was in Baga from Thursday to Friday to supervise efforts to return residents as part of strategies to cut Boko Haram’s long use of the commercial town as main transit for undertaking major fishing trade and tax administration from which the insurgents fund their murderous activities.
Baga, Borno’s largest fishing community in the shores of the Lake Chad with water ways to neighboring countries, was considered strategic to Boko Haram’s operation.
Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement to newsmen in Maiduguri Saturday, said two convoys- one belonging to the governor and another for a committee on Baga reconstruction – had safely plied the Maiduguri-Baga route previous days before the third convoy of security men was ambushed on Friday morning even after precautionary steps had been taken to ensure safe trips.
“Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is saddened by this unfortunate carnage.
“He shares the grief of families of these 11 priceless heroes to whom Borno shall remain grateful.
“The governor prays for the repose of their souls and urges all stakeholders to remain committed to ongoing peace building efforts.
“Zulum is of the opinion that we must continue to keep hope alive even in the face of tribulations, and believe that with sustained efforts and prayers, Borno will eventually regain peace.
“The situation facing us is a tough one but we must choose between doing something which gives us some hope and doing nothing which will leave us more vulnerable to Boko Haram’s ultimate wish to takeover Borno and bring it under their sovereign brutal administration,” the statement said.
- Baga’s first juma’at prayers in nearly two years
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum, while in Baga, attended juma’at prayers held for the first time in nearly two years.
Baga town was displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents 21 months ago, with most of the residents taking refuge in Monguno and Maiduguri.
In the Governor’s convoy were the Senator representing Northern Borno, Abubakar Kyari, House of Representatives members representing Marte, Monguno, Nganzai, Mohammed Tahir Monguno and that of Mobbar, Kukawa, Guzamala, Abadam federal constituencies, Bukar Gana Kareto.
Also, Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, Chairman of Baga resettlement committee and the Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Kaka Shehu Lawan were on the trip and some top government officials.
While taking tour of the construction work going on in Baga, Zulum commended the resettlement committee for the quality and speed of work.
Zulum had, on August 31, 2020, inaugurated a resettlement committee, which was mandated to commence immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Baga.
