Building Resilience: Zulum visits Cross Kauwa market in former Boko Haram stronghold
In his continued efforts to build community resilience to resettled communities in the State, Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on Monday, visited Cross Kauwa Market in a former Boko Haram stronghold in Kukawa located in the northern part of Borno State.
The people were returned voluntarily by Governor Zulum, when Baga – Monguno road was re-opened on July 29, 2020.
Cross Kauwa is located over 200km away from Maiduguri, in the far northern part of Borno state on the shores of Lake Chad.
The Governor decided to go and see the people for himself after supervising the second day of mass school enrollment of over 7000 IDPs and orphans to school in Monguno Town.
Zulum interacted with the people, some of whom have come from other communities neighbouring the Kukawa Local Government on the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin.
The Governor assured the people that his administration will continue to provide all the necessary support to the security agencies to ensure that the emerging peace is sustained.
Zulum also noted that with improved peace in Borno, the Government will work with security forces to reopen markets and business places, which can enhance the livelihood of the returning IDPs.
The Governor observed that the provision of livelihood to the people remains a viable tool in the fight against insurgency. He said, living in the IDP Camps is no longer feasible and people should be supported to provide a living for themselves.
He added that Borno State Government will continue the reconstruction and rehabilitation of destroyed houses and municipal buildings, resettle communities and promote trans-border trade.
“This is a very fundamental achievement for us to see normalcy returning to this part of the country. You can see the large crowd of people going about their normal business activities in Cross Kauwa market which is holding today. You can see large numbers of them with their herds of cattle and some with their implements going to the farm. This is an indication of normal life returning to Monguno, Kukawa and other parts of northern Borno hitherto occupied by the insurgents.” Zulum said.
The Governor expressed his gratitude to President Buhari, the Nigerian armed forces and all stakeholders that contributed to bringing peace to Borno.
Zulum made the appreciation while speaking to newsmen after his visit to resettled residents of Cross Kauwa, in Kukawa Local Government Area.
The Governor also applauded the efforts of the Civilian JTF, hunters and local vigilantes.
