Zulum donates house, N20m to Bako’s widow, orphans

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has announced a donation of a befitting house and N20m to the widow and orphans of Col. Dahiru Chiroma Bako who died from wounds sustained while battling Boko Haram.

Insurgents ambushed the troops’ commander Sunday morning. Bako was the Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade of Operation Lafiya Dole in charge of Damboa and surrounding axis in Southern Borno. He died at a military hospital in Maiduguri on Monday.

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Soldiers as well as Bako’s family members could not hold back tears at his burial at the Maimalari Military Cemetery, Maiduguri.

Governor Zulum paid a glowing tribute and announced the house and cash donation to family of the deceased, saying he was part of the success recorded in degrading Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.

“This is not a loss to the family of Late Col. Dahiru Chiroma Bako alone, not to the Nigerian Military alone, it is a loss to Borno and indeed Nigeria.

“I’m reliably informed that Col. Bako did not have a house of his own. We cannot ignore the family he left behind. We share their grief and nothing can equal his life. Nevertheless, I’m pleased to announce that the Borno State Government will build a befitting house for the family of the Late Col. Bako.

“I was also told that the Nigerian Army has offered a scholarship to his children. We will also support the family to complement the efforts of the military.

“For the welfare of his family, the Borno State Government will release the sum of N20m as a support to them. A cheque to this effect will be ready later today or tomorrow morning”, Zulum said.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who read Bako’s citation, described him as a fighter who “gave everything” for the unity and peace of the nation.

He said: “As we mourn and continue to remember him, we’re not going to leave his family and children after this moment. The army is going to take up the scholarship for the children he left behind and will ensure they’ve a good life even after the demise of their father.”