A bomb blast suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram militants has claimed eight lives and injured 21 others along the Maiduguri-Damboa highway.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, disclosed this after visiting the injured victims at a specialist hospital in Maiduguri, on Saturday.
During his hospital visit, Governor Zulum expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and condemned the attack, noting it’s regrettable that such incidents are happening at this time.
“Since last year or so, we have not witnessed an improvised explosive device (IED) attack,” he said. The governor pointed out that the road had been closed for about a month, potentially allowing insurgents to plant the device.
Governor Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies, urging the military to increase surveillance along the highway. “I urge the Nigerian military and other security agencies to beef up surveillance along the road so that such incidents do not happen again,” he stated. The government of Borno State, he assured, will continue partnering with the Nigerian military and federal government to curtail insurgency.
The governor assured the people of Borno State that his administration won’t allow the security situation to deteriorate, promising increased support for security agencies and local youth volunteers fighting alongside the military.
Governor Zulum expressed satisfaction with the response from military chiefs after a meeting in Abuja where he raised concerns about Boko Haram’s resurgence in Borno State. “Our discussion during the security council was not bad; we just raised an alarm that Boko Haram activities are resurging in Borno State, and the state government, the military, and other stakeholders need to work together to avert the looming situation,” Zulum said.
He added that they met with service chiefs and received assurances that everything possible would be done to control the situation.
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