Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has distributed 12 patrol vehicles to the Nigerian Army to beef up security in the border areas with Niger. The vehicles, including an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were presented to protect people’s lives and property in the insurgency affected border communities of the state. While presenting the fighting equipment Thursday in Damasak, he disclosed that 18 residents were killed during the three-day attacks on the border community. According to him, the speculations that Damasak was taken over and occupied by insurgents were however false. He said the distributed patrol vehicles were to strengthen Armed Forces, Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes fight terrorists. While lamenting Damasak’s incessant attacks, Zulum said: “Boko Haram had occupied Damasak in 2014 as one of their caliphates,” noting that the insurgents are interested in the border town for strategic access to raise funds through sell of agricultural produce. He therefore directed the Commissioner of Agriculture, Bukar Talba to boost agricultural activities in Damasak, while assessing a rice farm to enhance food security in the state, “Damasak is a major a border land route to the province of Diffa in Niger Republic,” he said With the recent incessant attacks, most of the residents have fled to take refuge in Diffa and Bosso towns of Niger
