Published By Olukayode Idowu
One of the major roads linking North East Nigeria to Cameroon and other countries in the Central African region has been reopened by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum in conjunction with the military authorities nine years after it was closed as a result of the Boko Haram crisis.
The road, Bama-Banki, 65 kilometers long leads one of the major Kanuri commercial and historical towns, Bama to border town Banki, which shares border with neighbouring Cameroon Republic in Central Africa.
The road was reopened in a ceremony organized by the Borno State Government where the governor, alongside the Theatre Commander, ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Musa Christopher, traveled to the border town from Maiduguri.
Unveiling the road at Banki Junction on the outskirts of Bama town, Zulum while appreciating the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military for gains being steadily recorded in peace-building and stability of the North East region: “I am very much impressed to witness the official reopening of this very important international road. This road has remained inaccessible to people since 2012 due to activities of Boko Haram, but with the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, our gallant security agencies have worked towards today’s reopening of this road.”
The Governor, who subsequently released 10 surveillance vehicles to the Nigerian Army to enhance their security operations along the reopened road, warned security officials to desist from extorting motorists and passengers while plying the road:
He said: “As we were coming here today, I sighted some immigration personnel busy extorting our motorists along the Maiduguri-Bama-Banki junction which is unacceptable. I want to strongly sound a warning, especially to Immigration personnel and other sister agencies to desist from extorting motorists and passengers.”
Zulum gave a matching order for the arrest of anyone engaged in smuggling of goods across the road, especially those who may want to smuggle food items through the bush to convey to criminals.
He said: “I have given a matching order to the military to arrest anybody engaged in smuggling of goods, especially diverting the main road to the bush with food items.
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He also pledged his total support to the Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, troops of 151 and 152 Battalion on provision of security on the road.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, Major General Musa Christopher, thanked Zulum for supporting the army in the fight against insurgents and promised to do their best to end terrorism in the region.
Christopher said reopening of roads and resettlement of IDPs by the present administration signifies the end of Boko Haram which would be some of the achievements to be measured during his stay in the theatre. After reopening the road, Zulum paid an unscheduled visit to Umar Ibn Ibrahim College of Education (UICEST) Bama, where he directed the state’s Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Engr. Mustapha Gubio, to immediately provide buses for students and ceiling fans to all classrooms/lecture theaters.