From Dauda R PamMaiduguri
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno state has sounded a voice of caution to Immigration and sister security agencies to desist from extorting motorist on major highways as the 65km Bama- Banki – Cameroun road is officially re-opened.
He gave the charge at Banki junction in Bama local area on Wednesday while flagging open the international road which connects to parts of central Africa in Zaire and Sudan,closed down in the past nine years as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.
The Governor warned any immigration personnel that wants to collect by extorting money from motorists to relocate to Border points, but not to engage in such corrupt tendencies along the major roads in the state.
Prof.Zulum appreciated the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari via the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor for restorating peace and stability in the state and the north east region.
He instructed the military to arrest anybody engaged in smuggling of goods, especially diverting the main road to the bush with food items, insisting that such perpetrators, if arrested, should be treated as Boko Haram terrorists.
“I am very much impressed to witness the official reopening of this very important international road. This road has remained inaccessible to people since 2012 due to activities of Boko Haram, but with the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and our security agencies, we have reopened it again.
“As we are coming here today, I have sighted some immigration personnel busy extorting our motorists along the Maiduguri-Bama-Banki Junction, which is unacceptable.
“I want to trongly sound a warning, especially to Immigration personnel and other sister agencies to desist from extorting motorists and passengers while plying the road, any immigration personnel that want to collect money should relocate to Border points, but not to engage in such undesious act along major roads in the state.
“On behalf of Government and the people of Borno state, we appreciated the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari throuth the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor for restoration of peace and stabilization of the state and the north east region.
“Likewise, as the Chief security officer of the state, I have given a matching order to the military to arrest anybody engaged in smuggling of goods, especially diverting the main road to the bush with food items. Therefore any perpetrator if arrested, should be treated as Boko Haram member.” Zulum said.
And pledged his total support to the Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, troops of 151 and 152 Battalion to safeguard the road, so that economic activities will thrive in the state and the country as large.
“Last year we made an appeal to the Nigerian military to allow farmers have access to their farms, and from the look of things, quite a number of our farmers would have a bumper harvest this year. This is so commendable as the support our Internally Displaced Persons got from Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) is no longer sustainable.” He said.
The Theatre Commander, Major General Musa Christopher, responding expressed gratitude to governor Zulum for supporting the army in the fight against insurgency, and promised to do their best to end terrorism in the region.
General Christopher said re-opening of roads and resettlement of IDPs by the present administration signifies the end of Boko Haram, which would be some of the achievements to be measured during his stay in the Theatre.
Highlights of the tour included a stop-over,an unscheduled visit to Umar Ibn Ibrahin College of Education (UICEST) Bama, where he directed Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Eng Mustapha Gubio to immediately provide ceiling fans to all classrooms/lecture theatres, as well as, two additional buses for students to have conducive learning environment. End.
