Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, says President Bola Tinubu has assured him that the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services and the Office of the National Security Adviser will take necessary measures to secure the release of children abducted in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of the state.
Zulum disclosed this on Friday while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after meeting with the President to discuss the security situation in Borno State.
He said he drew Tinubu’s attention to the recent abductions in Askira-Uba, including incidents in Mussa community, and received assurances that security agencies would work towards rescuing the victims.
Despite the recent incidents, the governor said the security situation in Borno had improved significantly over the past six months to one year.
According to him, the improvement has enabled the state government to resettle communities and return displaced residents to their ancestral homes.
Zulum said more than two million people had been resettled over the past seven years, adding that efforts were ongoing to restore normalcy to the remaining troubled areas.
He particularly identified Kareto, located beltween Damasak and Gubio, as a major security concern, noting that attacks and abductions had frequently occurred along the approximately 100-kilometre stretch.
The governor disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff had approved the establishment of a community and a military formation in the area to strengthen security and curb attacks along the route.
Zulum expressed confidence that the military presence would significantly improve safety for residents and travellers.
He also said the state government was working towards reopening the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road, explaining that its closure had forced residents to take longer alternative routes.
