BEVERLY HILLS, CA, November 20, (THEWILL) – Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha, on Wednesday, asked the Federal Government to increase military presence at the many border towns of the state with neighbouring countries.
Maintaining that the geographical location of the state has made it vulnerable to attacks by insurgents who frequently sneak in and out from neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad, Mustapha said increased military presence has become necessary to ward off the threat of invasion and finally put an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.
The deputy governor made the call while playing host to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Col. Azubuike Ihejirika, who was on a routine operation visit to the newly created 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, saying the state has suffered devastating attacks in the last few years from Boko Haram insurgents who easily move in and out of the state through the borders.
He said the Federal Government should consider it a matter of urgency to build barracks near the borders, especially in Gamboru/Ngala and Banki which border Cameroon even as he appealed that border patrol should be done with more seriousness to check the insurgents and other challenges at the borders.
Lamenting that the insurgents most time relocate to border towns of the neighbouring countries especially Cameroon without any check from the host country, Mustapha said the Federal Government needs to do a lot on the issue.
He also asked the Federal Government to re-introduce air border policing to ensure effective security in at the country’s borders, insisting that there should be multilateral relationship with neighbouring countries to check insecurity problem warranted by porous borders.
He however commended the military and other security agencies in the state for restoring peace in Maiduguri and other urban areas.
Ihejirika said the magnitude of the problem on ground and the desire of President Goodluck Jonathan to bring the insurgency to an end necessitated the creation of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.
Ihejirika said he has identified the problems raised by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the division and will address them as soon as he gets back to Abuja.
Ihejirika told the officers and men of the division that he was satisfied by the performance of the troops on ground, saying the cooperation among the military and other security outfits is also encouraging.
He also commended the people of the state whom he said had suffered long enough from the insurgency for their cooperation as he called on the troops to be steadfast in the fight against terrorism, insisting that there is no going back in the fight.
He said the war on terror is a must win and must be done fast as delay will not in the best interest of anyone.
He told his men that the oath to preserve the integrity of the nation is sacred and they must continue to demonstrate absolute loyalty to the country.
He said what make him happy is “the resolution of all Nigerians to deal with this issue (terrorism), “ adding “terrorism is not the way of life of Nigeria.”
Iherijika said Nigeria is a democracy as he advised anyone who is aggrieved to join any of the political parties to express their grievances, warning that no room would be given for dissent and lawlessness.
