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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, has urged the military to intensify operations around the Lake Chad shores to rid northern Borno of insurgents and terrorists.
Zulum made the call yesterday when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The governor commended the COAS for his previous services in the state as Commander of various Army formations. He commiserated with him over the recent loss of personnel in the line of duty.
He lauded the Army for training 1,000 Forest Guards to complement the military in securing forest areas, describing the initiative as critical to community-based security.
Zulum, however, said military operations must be followed by stabilisation programmes to consolidate gains and prevent resurgence of terrorist activities.
He attributed the recent attacks on communities along the Lake Chad shores to the absence of sustained operations in the area, and called for the immediate commencement of Operation Desert Sanity.
“I want you to hasten the process so that those insurgents disturbing northern Borno will be rid of,” he told the Army Chief.
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The governor also called for the establishment of more military locations and forward operating bases in vulnerable areas, saying it would be a game changer in pushing out terrorists and securing liberated communities.
He listed areas requiring additional military presence to include Maiwa, Koshebe, Mairari and Ala in Guzamala and Jere Local Government Areas, as well as Sabon Gari and Wajiroko in Damboa Local Government Area.
Zulum also sought the army’s support for the reopening of the Damboa-Biu-Maiduguri road to ease movement and economic activities. He promised government support for the take off of the army bases in the listed areas.
He noted that despite recent security incidents, there has been significant improvement in the security situation, and appealed to residents to continue to support the military.
Earlier, Lt. Gen. Shaibu said his visit was part of his routine operational tour of Army formations in the theatre.
He commended Gov Zulum for his support to the Nigerian Army and the Theatre Command, describing it as “phenomenal” and instrumental to ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
The Army Chief had earlier also held a closed-door meeting with the Theatre Commander and commanding officers over the recent terrorist attacks in the area and military operation.
