Dauda R PamMaiduguri
Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army has reopened Maiduguri- Damboa-Biu road, to ease the hardship being faced by commuters,13months after it was closed down in November 2018, occasioned by incessant attacks on motorists by Boko Haram.
Recall, the road was closed during the peak of Boko Haram insurgency and was reopened in 2016 and closed again in 2018 for 13 months until now that the military reopened it.
Lt General Tukur Yusuf Buratai,Chief of Army Staff,speaking at a brief ceremony at the Molai checkpoint, said ” I am here again for the reopening of Maiduguri- Damboa- Biu road.
The first time we reopened Maiduguri-Damboa road was on 27th February 2016 and was closed again to allow our troops to carry out operations.
Today 28th January, 2020 we are here for reopening the road for a second time”.
He said, “this road is not going to be opened from Maiduguri to Damboa only but Damboa- Biu is also opened for commuters and we will still continue with our operations, as well as deploy more troops to patrol the road to ensure the safety of lives and property of those plying the road”.
” The closure of the road was not intended to bring hardship to commuters but for clearing operations and also ensure their safety and protection. This reopening is going to be different because even if we are going to Carry out operation along the road it is not going to be closed again and if necessary, It will be just for some hours”, the COAS added.
General Buratai said ” I want you to appreciate the Borno state government for providing additional vehicles to the military, police, hunters. Vigilantes and CJTF to patrol the road to ensure the safety of the road”.
In his remarks, the Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum thanked the Chief of Army staff, the theater command and the military for keeping the state safe and for reopening the road and therefore, urged the commuters to be law abiding and always cooperate with the military by giving them information that will help them to clear the remnants of the insurgents.
Governor Zulum represented by his Deputy. Alhaji Umar Kadafur said “on our parts the Borno state government will continue to support the military in the fight against insurgrncy snf also In out efforts to ensure that the road remain safe the state government bought two bulldozers which is been use in clearing the road and has also distributed Rapid Response Squared vehicles to the Military, , police, NSCDC, CJTF and hunters to ensure the safety of the road”, he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the theater commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General, Olusegun Adeniyi
Warned the members of the Road Transport Workers against extorting the motorists under the guised of probing logistics, as the Army headquarters has provided them with the needed logistics for routine patrol on the road
” Today marks a turning point in our success against Boko Haram as the reopening of this road was an indication of success our feffirys in taming Boko Haram activities. All hands must be on deck to keep the road opened. This road is opened for motorists 7 days of the week “, he added.
Also speaking, the District Head of Damboa, Alhaji Zannah Maina Yakubu said ” we the people of Damboa, we really appreciate the military for reopening the road, this road is not going to be beneficial to only people of Danboa, but Biu, AskiraUba, Gwoza, Adamawa, Taraba among others..
A journey that suppose to take us two hours we spend two to three days because we have go through Damaturu, Biu, Gombi, Uba, Mubi, Askira and Chibok before arriving Damboa and sometimes we even have to go through Gombe. Thank God today this road had been reopened we will travel within an hour or two. Right now as I sm speaking to you people are jubilating in front of my palace in Damboa”, he added.
Ends
