–From Mike Sogbola:
The Boko Haram insurgents have set ablaze 73 houses and 28 shops in Thursday’s attack on three Borno villages, the state government revealed on Saturday.
The governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara, had complained to President Muhammadu Buhari of the increased attacks by insurgents in the state.
At a meeting with the President, the governor had said three local governments, Gubio, Magumeri and Konduga, were attacked in the last one week.
The governor, who arrived the state capital Maiduguri on Friday evening after the meeting with the President, was told by the chairperson of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hajiya Yabawa Kolo that a total of 73 houses and 28 shops were torched in the attack by Boko Haram on three villages of Konduga local government on Thursday night.
The Governor was informed by the chairperson while undertaking an impact assessment visit to affected villages in Konduga on Saturday.
In Borri, one of the three villages torched by the insurgents, the governor was informed by Kolo that around 8pm of August 22, the insurgents attacked and set ablaze 17 houses and four shops in the village.
Kolo also told the governor that in Wanori village, 34 houses and 18 shops were set ablaze and in Kaleri-Abdule village, 22 houses and six shops were torched.
The Governor, who went round to see things before meeting residents and community leaders affected by the attack, promised the immediate reconstruction of houses destroyed.
He said modern houses will replace those destroyed, he disclosed that he had received assurances from President Buhari previous day with respect to concerted efforts by the federal government to enhance security in Borno State.
During the visit, the governor held discussions with youth volunteers under the Civilian JTF, who have been helping with community policing.
The volunteers told the Governor they were short of patrol vehicles with the Governor promising them two brand new patrol vehicles to be given to them immediately.
