By Suzan Edeh

Bauch—The Sayawa Community in Tafawa Balewa Local government Area of Bauchi State has handed over an anti-aircraft gun,  allegedly recovered from terrorists by youths in the community  on March 30, 2015  to the Special Task Force, STF, Command in Jos.

The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Rev. Isaac Istifanus, spoke at the official submission and handing over of the Anti- aircraft gun  to the STF Commander, Major General D. D Enetie in Tafawa Balewa town, yesterday.

He said:” The gallant youths of Sawaya Community recovered the anti- Aircraft Gun  from the Boko Haram terrorists when Tafawa Balewa town was attacked on March 30, 2015; immediately after the general elections.

“This is not the first time of handing over of weapons to military personnel .During the attack,  a soldier was killed and his machine gun was seized  by the Boko haram terrorists .The same  Sawaya youths pursued the terrorists and recovered the machine gun and returned it to the military base.”

He commended Dogara Yakubu for being instrumental to the peace building between the Fulani and Sayawa who are the majority tribes in the community.

He then appealed to the Federal Government to engage the youths in the Army and create a permanent military unit of battalion strength in Tafawa Balewa town.

Also speaking, the District Head of Bogoro, Mr. Sauratu Damina commended the STF for maintaining peace and sacrificing their lives for the area, assuring that the community would continue to complement the efforts of the military towards combating the security challenges in the area.

Damina said: “We want to commend the youths for their bravery in collecting those weapons from the terrorists. Sayawa community has no reason to keep the weapon, but rather to submit it to the military because we have no capacity to keep weapons and that is why we deemed it fit to give it back to the military.”

In his remarks  STF Commander, Major General Enetie, commended the efforts of  the youths in Sayawa community for handing over the weapons recovered from terrorists to the military.

He told the people of the community that security was a collective responsibility, pointing out that each person had a role to play for society to develop.