By Ahmed Liman Kingimi
In his maiden visit to Borno State, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede reiterated his commitment to end the Boko Haram Insurgency and other criminalities bedeviling the part of the Country for Peace to thrive.
Lieutenant General Olufemi made the commitment known when he paid homage to the Shehu of Borno at his Palace in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital.
“Your Highness, I’m here this afternoon to pay homage to you as our father and particularly to thank you for the role you have played in supporting the military over the years. You have been particular about us and finding a solution to the problems of insurgency in Borno, and the northeast in general,” Olufemi said.
“I want to go further by telling you that as an Army, we stand by ending this insurgency because it’s something that we have been battling for the past 15 years. But for us to do that, we need your support and the good people of Borno state.
“I beg you as our father to help us galvanize our people to support us so that we can end this insurgency. It’s important for us to end this war so that Borno State can strive for economic activities to improve and have a good life in the state.”
He further recounted his memories while he was a young officer leaving Kaduna for Maiduguri to spend his weekend and returned back to Kaduna, adding that insecurity must be addressed to reclaim an era of peace and prosperity.
Olufemi stressed that it is not all about the army; it’s a collaborative task for everyone to join hands and end this insurgency.
Responding, The Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi in Maiduguri, praised the chief of the army and the traditional institution for their role in promoting peace in Borno State.
He said, “Most of my district heads’ parents were killed, even me; I escaped a suicide attack on my way from the mosque by terrorists simply because of cooperating with the law enforcement agencies by exposing them.”
“Until now, any insecurity issues we notice, we will expose it. I don’t care with anybody, as well as my district heads and council; they are all fearless people,” he said.
“We are very grateful to the military; we are very grateful to the other security agencies for all that they have done for the security of the state; otherwise, Borno could have been nowhere by now.
“The people of Borno were very courageous because, with all the security threats, bombing, and all changes, they are fearless,” the Shehu added.
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