Dauda R Pam
Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno state has shelved all Sallah activities and traveled to Gubio local government area northern part of the state where he spent most of the day, raising public confidence after soldiers of the 5 brigade repelled dozens of Boko Haram fighters who stormed the council at 6pm, leading to several hours of gun battle.
The Governor’s trip came after he set aside activities lined up for the sallah celebration including a lunch with stakeholders of the governing APC and a traditional visit of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi to the government house, which usually takes place at 4pm of every sallah day.
Zulum postponed the Shehu’s visit putting security first.
The Governor, alongside a member representing Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri federal constituency, Usman Zannah and some government officials.
His first port of call was the headquarters of the 5 brigade in Gubio town where a meeting, hosted by the Brigade’s commander, Colonel I.A Ajose and attended by the theatre commander, operation lafiya dole, Major General Benson Akinroloyo and the caretaker chairman of Gubio, Zannah Modu Gubio and other government officials, was held.
Zannah Modu Gubio,informed Governor Zulum that if not for the gallant resistance by troops of the Brigade, the insurgents could have gained control of Gubio on sallah Eve.
Addressing the caretaker chairman, theatre Commander Benson, who oversees the fight against insurgency, assured Governor Zulum that the Army was going to maintain its presence.
However,he admitted that the Army was changing strategy, part of which include operational movement of troops from one location to another.
Governor Zulum commended the 5 brigade for the gallantry and patriotism of soldiers under the command,stressing that, Borno government will sustain its support for the military by interventions on logistics, funding of volunteers in the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes who complement the military in fighting insurgents as well as continued mobilization of citizens to cooperate and support the military.
At the district head’s palace, Gubio ,Governor Zulum assured the residents of the military’s continued presence and presented additional patrol vehicles to more than 300 volunteers of the Civilian JTF and vigilantes helping with community surveillance, intelligence gathering and sometimes, fighting alongside the military in the front line.
Ends.
