Zulum awards N300m scholarship to orphans of slain CJTF, vigilantes, hunters

AHMED MARI,  Maiduguri

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has awarded a scholarship to 300 orphans of the members of the volunteer Civilian Joint Task Force, (CJTF), hunters and vigilantes who  paid the supreme price in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the state

Presenting the cheque of N300million to the Chairman of the scholarship committee, Barr. Kajashehu Lawan,  at the Government House, Maiduguri on Tuesday, Prof. Zulum said  “the scholarship award is to cushion the effect of the hardship encountered by the orphans following the death of their fathers,”.

According to him,  the award of the scholarship to the 300 orphans is the first phase of programme designed for the children of the large number of volunteers killed by the insurgents.

“The programme will be implemented for as long as I remain the governor of Borno State, and I hope my successor do so for the sacrifices of their fathers for us to sleep with eyes closed. We will continue to identify and enrol more of such orphans in the programme.”

Zulum said the government will be expending N60million annually for five years, while each of the orphans will get N200,000 cash for school feeding, uniform among others.

He also announced an upward review of the monthly allowances of the volunteers, who comprise the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, from N20,000 to N30,000 and an end-of-year bonus of N20,000 each.

The Governor said apart from the scholarship award, the state government also gave N5,000 each, 1 bag of rice,1 bag of maize and wrappers to the families of the 300 orphans to cushion their hardships.

He commended the military, police and other security agencies, as well as CJTF, volunteer hunters and vigilantes for their doggedness in the fight against insurgency.

In his goodwill message, the Theater Commander Northeast, Operation Had in Kai, Major General Christopher Musa commended the Governor for supporting the families of the Late volunteer CJTF, vigilantes and hunters, stressing that for them in the military they know the importance of supporting the families of those who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.

He assured them of their commitment and determination to do everything possible to end insurgency in the State and Northeast in general.

Also, the Managing Director, of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali who was represented by the head of administration, Mustapha Grema commended the government for the scholarship, stressing that the commission also has a similar scholarship to the victims of insurgency.

Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the committee for the award of scholarship, Barr Kakashehu Lawan said the 300 orphans were carefully selected from the families of volunteer CJTF, vigilantes and hunters, which comprise 110 females and 199 males.

It could be recalled that in November 2021 during your budget presentation of 2022 budget you promised to introduce  “Borno Heroes Scholarship Support” and this occasion is in pursuance of that promise.

For a better society

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