*Says newly resettled farmers in Gwoza communities crying out over looting of crops by terrorists
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District of Borno State at the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has appealed to the Nigerian military under the Theatre Command Headquarters Joint Task Force (JTTF) ‘Operation Hadin Kai'(OPHK) and other security agencies in the state to intensify more efforts towards clearing remnants of dreaded Boko Haram members in Borno State.
He specifically mentioned that the terrorists, especially those hibernating around Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountain and other hideouts within border communities of Gwoza and Cameroun Republic need to be cleared out.
He said, pockets of attacks recently perpetrated by insurgents have posed serious economic setbacks to resilient farmers newly resettled in liberated communities of Ngoshe, Kirawa, Warabe, Wala, Pulka and even Gwoza town, the LGC headquarters, as the terrorists resorted to looting of their crops without confrontation.
Senator Ndume stated this in an interactive session with journalists on Tuesday, immediately after his return to Maiduguri from tour 10 LGAs under his Senatorial District that were hitherto displaced by the insurgency and newly resettled communities in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
He also hailed the State Government’s efforts and collaboration with security operatives and some humanitarian partners for their support and assistance to the people of the area.
” Sincerely, the renewed pockets of attacks recently perpetrated by insurgents have posed serious economic setbacks to our resilient farmers who were newly resettled in liberated communities of Ngoshe, Kirawa, Warabe, Wala, Pulka and even Gwoza town, the Council headquarters. This is because, the terrorists resorted to looting of their unmatured crops without confrontation.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to the military and other security agencies to intensify more efforts aimed at clearing remnants of terrorists still hibernating in Sambisa Forests and parts of Mandara Mountains bordering Cameroun Republic and Nigeria”. Ndume said.
The former Chairman Senate Committee on Army while expressing his deep gratitude to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his extraordinary contributions to the development and rebuilding of about 10 Gwoza communities that were completely destroyed.
The Senator also applauded efforts and sacrifices made by the military in restoring civil authority in the area, especially for personally seeing a Medical Doctor who was deployed by the military authority providing medical services on daily basis free of charge to over 10,000 Ngoshe people and it’s environs who have since returned to their ancestral homes.
He distributed agricultural inputs such as bags of fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, cash to thousands of people mostly genuine farmers including women and youths as well provided solar streets light Warabe community when he stopped over at the village
He then inspected the land designated for the construction of 500 housing units to resettle displaced persons of Warabe by Governor Zulum’s rebuilding initiative.
While expressing the community’s continued need for more development, Ndume remarked, “Like Oliver Twist, we may ask for more, but to be honest, Zulum has exceeded our expectations.”
Additionally, Senator Ndume paid visits to families who had lost their loved ones recently, offering comfort and support during these challenging times, as mammoth crowd welcomed him and his entourage in all the communities visited.
Our correspondent gathered that before storming Gwoza communities, Senator Ndume distributed Tricycles and other empowerment materials worth millions of naira to some people across the senatorial district at his Maiduguri residence. End
