Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, has disbursed N180 million and
welfare packages to 9,000 widows and Civilian JTF members fighting
Boko Haram insurgency.
The over a decade long insurgency, has claimed 36,000 lives with
property worth about N3.42 million in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
According to him, members of Civilian JTF have been fighting alongside
troops to contain Boko Haram terrorism in the state.
While disbursing welfare packages Wednesday at Borno State University
(BOSU) campus, Njimtilo, he said that each widow of killed volunteers,
is to receive N50,000 along with disbursement of N180 million and
27,000 bags and cartons of rice and spaghetti, including cooking oil
to 9,000 volunteer fighters.
He also directed that each of the volunteers, is to go home with the
sum of N20, 000.
“The disbursed money and distributed food items, are outside your
regular monthly allowances,” he declared.
According to him, the miracle that emanated from Borno in the last
decade, is the emergence of Civilian JTF in 2013.
He noted that the volunteer fighters have sacrificed their lives
“fearlessly and patriotically” fight alongside troops liberate Borno
from terrorists.
He added that there is no group that is as important and critical; of
being addressing on protecting people’s lives and property.
“You’ve have given up your basic and entitled needs for safety and
comfort so that millions of fellow citizens could be protected along
with their property,” he said, adding that nothing can compensate for
the sacrifices they are making.
He continued; “Only God can adequately compensate each of you. This is
particularly so for many of our fellow compatriots who have died in
the battle fields.
“The Civilian JTF has intercepted suicide attackers and in the
process lost many lives. I will not mention names, but there are
records of warriors in the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes from
Borno north, central and south senatorial districts,” noting that they
have fought so hard and gave their lives fighting for Borno.
He said that those who died in the Civilian JTF, groups of hunters
and vigilantes did not die in vain.
Zulum noted that they died for the causes of saving humanity, praying
that God will grant them eternal mercy and paradise.
