By Adebisi Adeyemi, Lagos
The Nigerian Army has yesterday declared farmlands in Bama council area of Borno state, unsafe; as Boko Haram insurgents had buried several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Sambisa Forest.
The Army raised the alarm on Thursday, while the Brigade Commander of 21 Armoured Brigade, Brig-Gen G. B Audu was welcoming the UN Deputy Secretary General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed to Bama asses the ongoing Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR) projects of Borno state government.
He said that Bama is largely safe; but still faced with the challenges of farmlands littered with landmines by Boko Haram.
According to him; the planting of explosives into arable lands of the forest has made farming difficult for the local people. Audu, who was represented by Brigade’s Chief of Staff, Col. A.A
Adekeye called on the UN DSG to impress on the United Nations to fast track the clearance operations of landmines in farmlands to enable IDPs return to their farmlands.
He informed the UN delegations of providing support for the unaccompanied children as well as providing free medical healthcare to the community.
The Borno State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), of Boko Prof. Babagana Umara said the stategovernment has completed the constructions of 11,000 private homes, 170 classrooms and other school buildings in 11 schools.
He said the completion of the RRR projects include, township electrification and rehabilitation of 10 boreholes in Bama Township. While in Bama, Amina visited different places; including IDPs camp, community clinic for the Acute Management of Malnutrition, schools and other on-going rebuilding projects in the town that was recaptured by
the military in January, 2016. Her words: “We are here Bama today to assess gaps in humanitarian needs, and reconstruction efforts recorded by the Borno Ministry of
Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.
“With this information at hand, I’ll report back to the UN in order to identify areas of intervention.”
At one of the schools visited, Governor Kashim Shettima ordered the release of 250 bags of rice and 50 bags of beans to enable pupils start benefiting from daily meal per student to boost nutrition and encourage good learning outcomes.
He also ordered the release of free uniforms to all 4,503 pupils while he directed all teachers under the primary education in Bama to return to in order to increase number of teachers in IDP schools.
