Governor Kashim Shettima
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, Saturday ended his campaign midway in Southern Borno after bomb explosions in parts of Maiduguri, the State capital.
Shettima condemned the attacks and those who perpetuated them in strong terms.
He condoled with families and friends of those that lost their lives and commiserated with those who sustained injuries.
Shettima, who was in Hawul local government area earlier on Saturday stopped the All Progressives Congress, APC, campaign and instead, led prayers for repose of victims of the bomb blasts.
He quickly launched a free feeding programme to ease hardships faced by residents there arising from insurgency crisis across Borno State.
The Governor had since directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice whose ministry deals with citizens rights, to visit all affected areas and ensure speedy evacuation of victims to hospitals and mobilize medical doctors for emergency treatments that will be shouldered by the State Government.
Shettima directed that all necessary steps be taken to save lives where possible no matter what is required.
Governor Shettima, who was visibly troubled by the unfortunate attack, lamented that it came at a time citizens of Borno were already adjusting to normal lives following successes being recorded by the combined efforts of the military, other security agencies and youth volunteers called the civilian JTF.
Shettima expressed agony over the latest attacks and others in recent and previous times, describing them as acts of evil that had no justification in Islam.
The Governor, however, expressed optimism that the security challenges will be brought to an end as his administration remained committed to providing all necessary support to the military, youths volunteers and others security agencies involved in the fight against insurgency.
He noted that Allah is already giving victory over insurgents and that he was without the iota of doubt that the situation will be brought to sustainable end.
Shettima said he will be holding an emergency meeting with different stakeholders in markets, motor parks and other public places to take new measures aimed at enhancing security in public places, while he called on residents to patiently support whatever measures that will be taken in collective interest.
The Governor said his administration was already putting measures in place for the takeoff of a multi-faith and multi-ethnic Task Force that will be saddled with the responsibility of evaluating all communities liberated from the hands of insurgents.
The Task Force is expected to come with urgent steps towards reconstruction of residential houses and public infrastructures like water supply infrastructures, hospitals, schools, markets and other essentials of livelihood.
According to Shettima, the Task Force, which is to work with security agencies, will ensure that liberated communities are certified safe and habitable for occupation by displaced persons.
Governor Shettima urged citizens to be calm but security conscious and to report suspicious persons and movements to security agencies and youth volunteers around them.
He prayed for the repose of the dead and called on citizens to remain resolute in prayers.
The state government said the number of those dead or injured in Saurday’s blasts will be made public after proper records are taken in order to avoid conflicting and misleading figures.
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