Following recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on some parts of Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima on Tuesday held a meeting with members of youth volunteers involved in counter insurgency operations, popularly known as ‘Civilian JTF’.
At the meeting, the Governor appreciated their gallant efforts and unveiled welfare packages for them.
The meeting held at the Multipurpose hall of the Government House in Maiduguri.
The Governor held closed door discussions with leaders of the volunteers with focus on enhancing community policing.
At an open session with majority of the volunteers, Governor Shettima paid glowing tributes to them for sacrificing their lives towards complimenting the efforts of armed forces to fight for the restoration of peace in the state.
He said no amount of welfare package can equal the sacrifices being made by the volunteers, especially given the fact that some of them had laid their lives for Borno State.
The Governor said despite its meager resources, the Borno state Government would spend whatever it takes to ensure that the volunteers were properly paid allowances, equipped and highly motivated.
He announced a bonus of twenty million naira to the volunteers, while directing that any backlog of allowances be paid immediately.
Shettima directed the Ministry of Health to put a system in place that would guarantee free medical attention to all youth volunteers in all public hospitals in the state.
He also ordered the supply of more patrol vehicles to the volunteers.
“We are all eternally indebted to you and we thank you most sincerely for the sacrifices you have made for us to have peace in this part of the world. “I want to assure you that once the dust settles, once this madness is over, we have the herculean task of creating jobs, of engaging the multitude of youths who stood firm and ensure that we have peace in this part of the world”, Shettima pledged.
The Governor also commended President Muhammadu Buhari in his fight against Boko Haram and for his role towards restructuring the military.
“I have to pay a special tribute to President Muhammadu Buhari; he has shown the zeal, the courage, the passion and the commitment to bring about peace in this part of the world.
“Our military men and women are now adequately armed and supported so that they carry out their task; they have so far recorded great successes not withstanding some attacks being carried out by insurgents on soft targets. Insha Allah, Boko Baram will be over and very soon”, he noted.
Leader of the civilian JTF, Baba Lawan Jaafar pledged the continued commitment of his members to supporting the military in the fight against insurgency in Borno State and said they were motivated by Governor Shettima’s support for them over the years.
He paid condolence to the Governor over last Sunday’s attack on Ali Dawari town located on an outskirt of Maiduguri where many lives were lost.
“We have also changed our tactics and strategies. By the grace of God, we are going to resist their new tactics of inflicting havoc”, Jaafar promised.
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