Reiterates call on Military to restore civil authority in Guzamala Council, other communities

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

The Speaker Borno State House of Assembly (BoSHA), Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan has on Sunday morning expressed deep shock over the killing of nine (9) awaiting passengers by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to have been planted at a local bus stop in Mairari village of Guzamala local government area of the state.

The incident which took place during the week end at about 11:am yesterday also left scores injured. The victims were later evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri receiving treatment.

The Speaker who confirmed the incident also condoled with families of the deceased and those who sustained varying degree of injuries. He prayed Allah to grant Aljanatul Firdaus to the souls of the deceased and wished injured ones quick recovery.

This is as Rt. Hon. Lawan who hails from Guzamala local government area has reiterated his call and appealed to the military and other security agencies to recapture the entire Guzamala, especially Gudumbali, the Council Headquarters, Mairari village and it’s environs which have been deserted and under the control of Boko Haram without civil authority for many years.

Recall that Mairari village situated along main road is about 18km drive from Monguno local government area and 119km away from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The agrarian village which was hitherto dislodged and resettled two times, is now a ghost community due to intensive and renewed Boko Haram attacks. But the villagers mostly resilient farmers who relocated to nearby Monguno and Gajiram town for safety usually shuttles around the community to engage in their farms and hunting during the day time. Thereafter, they will gather at a specific bus stop in Mairari to board commercial vehicles to Monguno, Gajiram or Maiduguri after the exercise on daily basis.

Unfortunately, some terrorists went and planted an IEDs at the usual bus stop which exploded and wrecked havoc.

Speaker Lawan in an interview with Newsmen said: ” It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs today while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village. May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for quick recovery to those who were evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri hospitals for treatment after the incident.

“You are aware that Mairari village which was hitherto the only village that was resettled two times with civil authority in the whole of Guzamala local government area has remained deserted again due to Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks.

“As resilient people, most of them who are taking refuge in Monguno, Guzamala and Maiduguri usually visits Mairari community and engaged in their farms. Unfortunately, some terrorists who have been monitoring their movement went and planted IEDs at their local bust stop which exploded while waiting to join commercial vehicles back to their area of aboard.

” I know that the newly deployed Theatre Commander of North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar and his troops are doing well in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP, let me reiterate my appeal for the military to take over the entire Guzamala local government area which has remained under Boko Haram territory, so as to restore civil authority”. The Borno Speaker stated. End