Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has saved the life of one Major Garba by flying him in a chartered flight to Abuja for medical treatment.
Garba sustained serious bullet wounds, while fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the Wajiroko frontline of Sambisa Forest in Damboa Council.
Confirming the emergency chartered flight, yesterday (Sunday), in Maiduguri, a counter-insurgency expert, in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed: “He was receiving treatment at the Maimalari Military Cantonment Hospital but requested to travel to Abuja to meet his private doctor.”
His request was therefore approved by the military authority.
Makama further disclosed that on getting to the Maiduguri airport, the commercial airline operators told Garba that it was against their rules to fly him in his critical health conditions.
Disappointed with the airline’s response, he resigned his fate and patiently waited for the next military flight that will be going to Abuja.
Governor Zulum who was travelling to Abuja stopped and sighted the wounded officer with a greeting and wreathing in pain.
It was in the course of the greetings that Zulum learnt of the soldier’s frustration to travel for medical treatment in Abuja.
The Governor was also told how operators of the Airline refused to fly him due to his conditions.
Zulum, who is a regular customer of commercial airlines, was however moved; by the soldier’s condition and the refusal of the airline to fly him to Abuja.
He, therefore, decided to intervene by suspending his own travel plan with the commercial airline.
His intervention was instantaneous; as it was far-reaching to save the life of the critically wounded Nigerian Army officer.
The Governor promptly hired a private jet to fly the wounded soldier to Abuja. He also accompanied him on the flight for medical treatment.
He noted that; “The magnanimity he extended to the ailing soldier was not a one-off thing, stating that the Zulum is known to have always gone out of his way to provide any kind of support and concern to troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
He said the troops are fully engaged in the fight against terrorism in the Northeast, particularly in Borno state.
