Zulum inaugurates c’ttee on repatriation, integration of surrendered insurgents

AHMED MARI, Maiduguri

To address the problems associated with the  massive  surrender of Boko Haram and Islamic States of West Africa Provinces (ISWAP) the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum  on.Monday inaugurated 26-man committee on reparation, resettlement and management of repentant insurgents.

Inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Maiduguri, Governor B Zulum said: “it is my singular honour and privilege to inaugurate the Borno State Committee on reparation, reintegration and management of repentant insurgents, with the massive surrendering Boko Haram insurgents. This committee is to work with similar committee set up by the Federal Government which was chaired by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and I served as the vice chairman “.

Governor Zulum also said:  “The committee has three mandates of reorientating the refugees, resettle the Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs), manage the welfare and reintegration of repentant insurgents. Very soon, the Presidential committee will be in the state. I want you to have an interface with them and work closely with them “.

He pointed out that there is problem of accommodation in the repentant insurgents’ camps, we need to establish more camps to accommodate the increasing number of surrendering insurgents, stressing that though funding was a major problem but I urge you to continue to solicit funds from corporate organizations, individuals and international donors.

Zulum further explained that there is 15 million Euros where seven were spent and remaining 8 billion Euros which is managed by the UNDP, adding that the committee needs to establish a bigger camp to accommodate the growing number of the  surrendered .insurgents.

In his vote of thanks, the chairman of the committee, who.is also the state Deputy Governor, Hon. Umar Kadafur,  assured the Governor that  they would work diligently in ensuring that the task given to them is carried out according to the directives.

The deputy Governor, who was represented by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justices, Barrister Kajashehu Lawan, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to be in the important committee. “We know  security is the primary responsibility of government and we will work according to task”, he assured.

Similarly, Governor Zulum has also inaugurated a committee on the resettlement of Gudumbaki and Mairari communities of Guzamala local government area of the state.

Also inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Maiduguri, Governor Zulum said: “At a point about 20 local government areas in Borno State were under insurgents’ occupation but thank God the military and other security other security agencies liberated all the local government areas, except Gudumbali which has no human presence “.

He urged the committee to work hard ensure that hospitals, houses, secretariat, water resources and other basic immunities were provided for smooth resettlement of people of the two communities.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, the committee chairman,  Hon. Sugum Mai Mele, assured the Governor that they will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the communities are resettled in a dignified manner.