Borno state Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Thursday received a Cameroonian military delegation led by the 4th region joint military commander, General Saly Mohammadou at the Government House, Maiduguri.
He was accompanied by General Bouba Dobekreo, Commander Sector 1 Multinational Joint Task Force; Brigadier General Essoh Jules-Cesar, Commander Fourth Gendarmerie, GOC 7 Div Brig. Gen. AK Ibrahim among others.
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General Saly acknowledged the political support rendered by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in the fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad region.
He said the support facilitated the smooth execution of non-kinetic operations, creating a conducive environment for the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their ancestral towns to pick up the pieces of their lives.
The Cameroonian military was in Nigeria to share experiences and improve collaboration between forces of the two countries in the fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad region.
In response to their appreciation, Governor Zulum made a case for improved trans-border trade between the citizens of the two countries.
He stressed that collaboration between Nigeria and Cameroon is very important at this time to contain the resurgence of Boko Haram in the region.
According to him, Nigeria and Cameroon shares the same culture and traditions, hence, the free movement of people between the two countries.
Zulum said, “most of our people share the same tradition and culture. Though the insecurity has affected all the countries in the Lake Chad region, all our economies were affected. Therefore, there is need for us to come together and fight this insurgency.”
“The issue of trans border trade is very important, all of us know Banki. We are doing everything possible to reopen Banki market, we are planning to reopen Bama-Banki road. Let us support the security architectures so that we can ensure free movement of our people.”
He added that the Borno State Government is planning to return most of the people affected by the insecurity that are taking refuge in Cameroon soon.
