Zulum Visits Borno’s  Reclaimed Village Once Known As Boko Haram’s Deadliest Hotspot, Approves 500 Houses

Governor of Borno state, Banagana Zulum, had on Sunday, June 12, visited Logumani, a deserted village  in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno, where he approved the building of 500 new houses ahead the final return of the displaced residents.

Logumani a linear community about 30 kilometres away from Ngala, a border community near Chad, was destroyed at the height of Boko Haram’s territorial conquest in 2013. The residents mostly farmers and animal breeders had to flee to IDP camps. The terrorists used the village as an ambush spot or where they’d mount fake checkpoints to attack unsuspecting commuters and military operatives.

In October 2013, Boko Haram gunmen, blocked the highway on a Sunday near Logumani during which they shot and hacked to death 19 motorists and burned three trucks.

Another landmark incident around Logumani was in July 2018 when Boko Haram attacked and killed at least 27 people while several others were injured in an ambush on motorists.

Governor Zulun was said to have traveled by road early morning from Maiduguri and returned at night. 

The governor had while in Logumani approved the construction of 500 resettlement houses to accommodate returnees.

Logumani residents were displaced as a result of the activities of Boko Haram insurgents for over seven years.

The governor also said he would providing support for returnees to enable them rebuild their homes that were, destroyed by insurgents.

Zulum further directed the State Water Supply Agency (RUWASA) to drill a new deep aquifer borehole that will address the water needs of returning IDPs.

Also during the visit, the governor interacted with residents of Logumani, who are taking refuge in Dikwa town and discussed modalities of returning them to their ancestral homes.

It could be recalled that before Sunday’s trip, Mr Zulum “undertook a similar one to Kirawa town in Gwoza Local Government Area on Saturday. 
In Kirawa, the governor had supervised the resettlement of over 2,500 households.”

Governor Zulum’s spokesman, Isa Gusau explained that “even before Kirawa, Zulum had paid similar visits to dozens of communities in northern, central and the southern parts of Borno State.”

“The visits have mostly focused on building, supervising or allocating newly built resettlement houses, distributing cash and food aid and supplying agricultural packs to farmers.

“At most places he visited, Governor Zulum regularly held meetings with military commanders, volunteers, council chairmen and resident traditional heads and community leaders to review security situations and deploy strengthening measures where necessary.”