The Federal Government may soon create a special security unit to guard the Nigerian half of the Lake Chad shoreline so that Nigerian farmers can continue farming across the shores, given the ongoing terror in the region’s northeast.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum revealed this to reporters on Wednesday after seeing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
“I spoke with Mr. President and he assured me to look into establishing a solid security outfit in the Lake Chad Basin so that people can access the agricultural lands,” Zulum said.
The governor stated that the state was dedicated to utilizing every resource that would promote growth as peace gradually returned to Borno.
“Now that we are having relative peace in Borno State, there is a need for the government to ensure the re-establishment of the South Chad irrigation project.
“The South Chad irrigation project has tremendous potential to produce food to cater for the needs of the entire northern Nigeria or I can say even the whole country. But due to insecurity in the region, the irrigation scheme has not been functioning very well for a decade or more.”
Zulum emphasized how crucial it is to revive the South Lake Chad irrigation projects in order to ensure food security in terms of both quantity and quality.
“Insha Allah, when these irrigation projects are reestablished, I believe the issue of food security will be addressed not only in Borno state but also in Nigeria,” he said.
In the meantime, during operations in Borno and Katsina, Nigerian Army soldiers working alongside hybrid forces killed three terrorists.
Weapons and cattle that had been rustled were also taken from the terrorists during the operations.
The Nigerian Army claimed in a statement published on X on Wednesday that the troops and the hybrid forces fought the militants in a gunfight and ultimately defeated them.
“Nigerian Army troops deployed for counter-terrorism operations in the North East in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, on Wednesday, March 26, 2024, neutralised one terrorist and recovered arms, ammunition, and rustled cattle during a clearance operation on identified Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province enclaves within the Gori general area in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
“In a fierce firefight, the troops successfully overpowered and, neutralised one terrorist, rescued several rustled cattle, and recovered arms and ammunition from the terrorists.
“The recovered arms included two AK-47 rifles, 38 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, AK-47 magazines, one Improvised Explosive Device, and one motorcycle.
“In addition to killing two terrorists in Katsina, the troops recovered 25 rustled livestock.
“In another operation in Katsina State, troops conducting offensive operations on terrorist camps neutralised two terrorists in the Garin Rinji general area in the Batsari Local Government Area following a gun battle. The gallant troops overwhelmed the insurgents with superior firepower, destroyed several hideouts, and recovered two motorcycles and 25 rustled livestock during the operation. Troops are still sustaining offensive operations to clear terrorists in the general area,” the statement added.
