By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Southern Borno at the National Assembly on Monday extended commendation to the Borno State Government for its efforts in the ongoing Reconstruction Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), which led to the resettlement of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their ancestral homes in ten (10) communities of Gwoza Local Government Area.

Recall that the over decade atrocities posed by insurgents led the people of Gwoza including those in the Mandara Mountains to vacate their homes, as Gwoza town was declared Boko Haram caliphate, not until troops recaptured and liberated it a few years ago.

Ndume said, that since peace gradually returned, Governor Babagana Zulum has not only resettled Displaced people but also embarked on monthly distribution of food and non-food items as palliatives, which is highly commendable.

He listed the 10 resettled communities to include not only Gwoza, but Pulka, Limankara, Warabe, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Izge and Bitta. Others are Hambagtha, Modube and Yamtake villages, even as he said, the people of Ashgashiya, Wala and other communities would return back to their ancestral homes soon by Allah’s grace.

The Senator who was in Gwoza during the weekend for a House-to-House condolence to families of those who lost their loved ones on 29th June 2024 through multiple suicide bombings, told some Journalists who paid him a solidarity visit at his Maiduguri residence that, he was very much impressed with his people who displayed resilience and were busy working on their farmlands while he spent some days in Gwoza town.

He also donated the sum of N10 million, while his wife Hajiya Maryam donated N3 million into a dedicated account of Gwoza Concerned Citizens (GCCs), making a total of over N40 million, as the account remained open for contribution(s), which would be channeled into resettlement of Gwoza people and to complement efforts of Governor Zulum led administration.

Ndume also thanked those who have contributed their widow’s might to the GCCs’ account, especially, the management of JAIZ Bank which donated N10 million, while the member representing Chibok/Gwoza/Damboa federal constituency, Hon. Ahmed Jaha equally donated N5 million.

Also among the donors, Ndume said, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir donated N3 million, and Engineer Zakariya and Hon. Mohammed Tumala donated N1 million each. Also, the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta offered his donation alongside many sons and daughters of Gwoza Local Government Area.

His words: ” I want to thank you for finding time to come to my house for solidarity over what has happened to me and my people in Gwoza.

” The incident of multiple suicide attacks which happened in Gwoza town on 29th June 2024 left over 30 people dead, with dozens injured. Although I was amongst the entourage of the then Acting Governor, His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur immediately after the incident, I decided to personally pay another sympathy visit from house to house and condole the bereaved. I also used the opportunity to distribute palliatives donated by the North East Development Commission, NEDC, to about 2,000, mostly women and youths who are the vulnerable groups in Gwoza.

“I want to specifically appreciate Borno state government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum who injected huge resources that led to the resettlement of thousands of IDPs back to 10 liberated communities of Gwoza.

He therefore enjoined all people irrespective of political, religious, or ethnic background to continue to pray for the restoration of peace and to have a bumper harvest so as to ameliorate the current economic hardships in the country.