By Jutah Gupah,
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state; has urged troops of Operation Lafiya Dole to redouble their efforts clear remnants of Boko Haram insurgents that are currently occupying communities in three councils of Abadam, Guzamala and Marte.
The liberation of the affected communities, will fast track return of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps to already held three council areas in north part of the state and shores of Lake
Chad.
Shettima tasked the military on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to Brigade Commander of Multination Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Brig-Gen O.O. Soyele at Baga.
He said liberation of communities; will fast track and enable displaced persons vacant their camps in Niger, Chad and Cameroon and ther resettlement areas in the country to; “Go home and pick up their
pieces of livelihoods that were destroyed by Boko Haram in the last seven years.”
He also frowned at the situation where thousands of IDPs whose communities are still under the control of Boko Haram territory; and who were willing to return; cannot do so due to pockets of attacks.
He said the insecurity situation has forced many IDPs into professional beggars and continue to depend on food and other relief items from United Nations and humanitarian donor agencies for
survival.
Baga is a fishing community and on shores of Lake Chad; and largest producer of fish in the country that was attacked by Boko Haram and killed over 250 residents and fishermen.
The attack which occurred on April 16, 2013, the insurgents torched over 2, 000 houses on 16th April, before Bag was liberated by military in early 2015.
His words: “We are in your area of responsibility to see our people; especially the tens of thousands of IDPs who are in dare need of food and other basic needs of life to survive this insurgency.
“Government has commenced rebuilding all destroyed public and private infrastructural facilities. We are building new General Hospitals in Baga and Gajiram town. In addition to these, over 20 Model
Primary and Secondary Schools in Monguno, Gajiram, Kukawa and other Local Government Areas across be completed before the end of this year.
“We are rebuilding houses of our people that were razed down by activities of insurgents; including business centers, shopping complexes and places of worship.”
He said most of the projects being executed by the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR) have been completed while others are at completion stages.
He said the completed ones have already been commissioned, including classroom blocks, residential houses, government lodges and other public buildings that were destroyed by insurgents.
“I am highly impressed with troops performance in this part of the country,” said Shettima, appealing that the military should intensify efforts clear remnants of Boko Haram in Abadam, Gudumbali and other
communities yet to be liberated. He said this will enable the displaced persons return to pick up their
pieces and destroyed livelihoods. While briefing the governor, Soyele said the security situation in
Baga and other parts of areas of responsibility; is calm and unpredictable protect people’s lives and property.
He said there were renewed attacks by insurgents, but the ongoing; “Riverine Clearance Operations” by troops will clear remnants of terrorists on the shores of Lake Chad and adjourning liberated
communities in northern Borno. “The challenges we have are on nature of some riverine/ highland
areas, where Boko Haram insurgents took advantages to perpetrate their evil acts,” he said.
