Borno poor state of roads fuels terrorism, others in Northeast
By Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa has said that the poor states of roads fuel terrorism and banditry in Borno state.
According to him, two major roads on the fringes of Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region were built in the 1980s without any rehabilitation.
He lamented the state of roads in the state that affect and hinder the ongoing counter-terrorism in the Northeast.
Musa disclosed this, yesterday (Wednesday) in Maiduguri at the handing and taking over of donated medical equipment for the military hospital of the Maimalari Cantonment,
The six donated equipment by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) include a haematology analyzer, high profile x-ray machine, an automatic analyzer, a spectrophotometer and electrolyte analyzer,
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He said that the equipment will improve healthcare delivery services of the military hospital; including the treatments of wounded officers and soldiers on the front lines.
On how bad roads fuel terrorism, the Theatre Commander disclosed: “The terrorist’s cash in on the bad roads to plant over 150 Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) along 330-kilometre Maiduguri/Damboa/Biu and Maiduguri/Monguno roads,”
He added that the IEDs had to be removed meticulously to prevent being exploded in causing harm and damages to motorists and travellers.
According to him, the fixing of roads could overcome 75 per cent of the challenges of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the state.
The NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali however said that security has returned to Maiduguri, as the military has improved the security situation in the Maiduguri metropolis.
He added that the donated critical medical equipment will not only boost troops’ morale but could build the capacity of hospitals to provide healthcare services.
Thanking the Commission for the equipment, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk said that the installation of the equipment will save the lives of troops on the front lines.
Sadiya, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Sani Gwarzo, said: “It will also prevent the resurgence of terrorism and abduction in the insurgency-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.”
Other medical equipment handed over by the Commission includes a digital x-ray machine, 500 KVA generator and CT scan machine to the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri.
At the University of Maiduguri (UMTH), Alkali also handed over the completed Centre for Study of Violent Extremism with a cheque of N48.3 million for research on cancer.
