Military to re-open Maiduguri-Damboa -Biu road After Zulum’s Plea

BY INUSA NDAHI, MAIDUGURI

The Nigerian Military is to re-open the 185km Maiduguri-Damboa -Biu road, which was closed down as a results of incessant attacks on motorists and passengers by armed insurgents.

The road, which later turned nightmare, forcing motorists and drivers ply the tortuous two-day travels to three towns through Damaturu-Darazau-Gombe roads in Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states, would be reopen following the plea made to Service Chiefs by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, when the formers paid him a courtesy called at the Government House, Maiduguri on Monday.

Zulum, while highlighting the challenges of counter-insurgency operations to Minister of Defense, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd) and two Service Chiefs; Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai and Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique, said with the re-opening of road, he will no more ply the

683-kilometre road, but drive personally along Damboa road to Biu, Chibok, Mbalala, Askira and Uba in Borno state, with or without security cover.

“I’ll be personally plying this road, once the military gives me the clearance, and I am happy to inform you that, we have discussed on the possibility of reopening the road, which the service chiefs have given me the assurance of reopening it very soon”. Zulum said.

According to him, without security, no development could take place, including the implementation of recovery and resettlement projects.

He told the Minister and twin Service Chiefs that unless the root causes of Boko Haram insurgency, were addressed, the resettlement and recoveries of liberated communities could be illusive and will continue to lose more lives and property in Borno.

His words: “To unravel causes of insurgency, the Maiduguri-Gambouru road and establishment of civilian authorities; resettlement and stabilization mechanisms on shores of Lake Chad be addressed by military and Federal Government.

“Already, about 115, 000 youths; are unemployed in Monguno, Gajiram, Ngala, Kukawa, Baga and Cross Kauwa,” warning that Boko Haram could employ them to sustain the war in Lake Chad region, Sambisa Forest and
Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area.”

He said with the re-building of border road to Gambouru/Ngala, two million people would be engaged in various economic activities, including fishing, farming and livestock production.

He therefore, urged the military to scale up counter-insurgency and terrorism operations in Lake Chad region.

He noted that, if the tumbu areas of the lake chad which harbours quite a number of terrorists remain uncleared by troops, there is no way, government and its people would have peace in the Northern parts of the state, and therefore challenged the military to change their modus operandi defeat Boko Haram.

Our Correspondent reports that the service chiefs who remained mute were in Borno for routine assessment on the war against terrorists, but decided to pay a courtesy call on the governor.