Governor Mai Mala Buni has committed to substantial investments in security infrastructure over the next two years of his administration, aiming to bolster the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in combating terrorism and kidnapping in the Northeast region.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Damaturu, the Director General of Press and Media Affairs, Mohammed Mamman, praised the coordinated efforts of the military, police, and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists. He noted their resilience and commitment to restoring peace in the region.

    Mamman lamented that the insurgency has displaced approximately one million Yobe residents from their ancestral homes, including those in four communities bordering Niger.

    Highlighting the importance of military synergy and support in counter-insurgency operations, Governor Buni called on residents to actively participate by providing credible and timely intelligence to security agencies. He emphasised that such cooperation is crucial for rooting out terrorists from their hideouts in Sambisa and Sasawa forests, as well as in the border areas with Niger.

    The governor acknowledged the challenges faced by the military in eradicating terrorists from these areas, particularly the use of families and abducted persons as “human shields.” He explained, “These human shields are not only used to protect the hideouts but are also engaged in farming and other activities within the forests.”