Governir Babagana Umara Zulum has paid a sympathy visit to residents of Ngoshe community following a deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, assuring that efforts are underway to rescue those abducted and restore security in the area.
Ngoshe, located in Gwoza of Borno State, came under attack on Tuesday evening, leaving scores of residents dead while several others were abducted.
Addressing members of the affected community on Friday in Pulka, Governor Zulum said he personally visited to sympathize with families who lost loved ones in the tragic incident.
“We are here today to commiserate with the people of Ngoshe that have lost their loved ones following the unfortunate incident that occurred on Tuesday. The situation is very sad and our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy,” the governor said.
He assured residents that the Nigerian Armed Forces would intensify efforts to rescue the abducted victims and restore peace in the area.
“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to address the unfortunate situation that has befallen this community, and for those who have been abducted, the Nigerian military will do everything within its capacity to rescue them,” Zulum added.
The governor explained that ongoing military operations are targeting insurgent hideouts in the Sambisa Forest to flush out criminal elements operating in the region.
According to him, the recent attack may have been triggered by pressure on insurgents as troops intensified operations in their strongholds.
“There are ongoing military operations within the Sambisa Game Reserve. What we witnessed yesterday was largely a result of insurgents being pushed out from their strongholds, which led them to launch coordinated attacks on nearby communities,” he said.
Governor Zulum also urged the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to intensify operations in the Mandara Mountains, describing the area as a major security threat where insurgents often launch attacks on surrounding communities.
“The Mandara Hills remain a major security concern. The insurgents descended from the hills to attack this town. Therefore, I call on the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to intensify efforts to clear Mandara Hills of insurgents,” he said.
He noted that the exact number of casualties from the attack was still being determined, as security agencies continued to assess the situation.
As part of immediate humanitarian support, the governor said the state government had begun distributing relief materials and setting up cooking points to provide meals for displaced residents.
“For now, we will distribute food items to those affected and I have directed that cooking points be established so that everyone in this community can receive meals from a central kitchen,” he said.
Zulum urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while the government intensifies efforts to end insurgent attacks in the state.
“We shall not relent in our commitment to restoring lasting peace and stability in the state. With sustained military operations and cooperation between all levels of government, we will overcome this challenge. Insha Allah, peace will return fully to our land,” he added.
During the visit, the governor also inspected houses destroyed in a separate attack by insurgents in Konduga.