Maiduguri attack: Governor Shettima setsup intervention committee over victims

Following Friday's unfortunate attacks by insurgents as well as influx of victims from surrounding communities into Maiduguri, Governor Kashim Shettima has approved the establishment of a Special Emergency Relief Committee that is to immediately open a temporary camp to document and shelter victims displaced in Maiduguri as well as those victims displaced in surrounding communities who have entered into the State Capital. The committee is to provide necessary relief all the victims and to implement suggested ways by which the victims can be assisted to return to normal life.

The Committee has the Honourable members of Borno State House of Assembly representing MMC,Konduga and Mafa; Honourable Commissioners of Women Affairs and Social Development, Environment, Justice, Religious Affairs, Agriculture, Inter-Governmental Affairs, the Special Adviser on Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation; Special Adviser on Women Affairs; Care-Taker Chairmen of MMC, Jere, Kaga, Mafa,Bama and Konduga Local Government Areas and Senior Special Assistant, Usman Chiroma. The committee is to be chaired by elder statesman Bulama Mali Gubio while the Special Adviser Research, Documentation and Strategy, Dr Mohammed Bulama is to serve as secretary.

Governor Shettima directs the committee to meet the Borno State Deputy Governor,Zannah Umar Mustapha on Sunday for further briefing on their assignment and conclude modalities for take off.

In addition, the Governor directs all Care-Taker Committees' Chairmen of the 27 Local Government Areas to establish Standing Emergency Relief and Response Committees in their councils. In doing so, they should take cognizance of relevant stakeholders like traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies, youth volunteers and the health department. The major responsibilities of these committees shall be to liaise and collaborate with security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders to proactively gather and provide intelligence to relevant authorities with a view to prevent insurgent attacks, to assist in the provision of protection to communities as well as provide emergency relief in the event, God forbid, of any attack. All LGA caretaker committees are further directed to constitute the membership of such committees and forward the list to the Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs within one week.

Governor Kashim Shettima condoles with families of all innocent citizens that have lost their lives and he sympathises with all affected victims and assures the people of Borno State that Government is taking every lawful step available to it, to protect lives and property. Shettima said it was part of Government's urgent need to seek solutions to the crisis that necessitated his current trip out of the country to with the sole aim of expressing the concerns of Borno State and holding discussions with international experts and concerned governments who have shown empathy and commitment in helping to address the problem by way of complimenting the sustained efforts of the Federal Government.

Governor Shettima said he is fully aware that the most important duty of any responsible Government is to work towards the security of lives and property in addition to raising the standard of living.

Governor Shettima said his deputy, Zannah Umar Mustapha is competently in-charge of the State and he is fully authorised to remain in control of affairs as required by their joint mandate.

Governor Shettima strongly commend security agencies and youth volunteers for their patriotism, sacrifices, resilience and devoted commitment to our collective efforts to overcome our challenges. The Governor also thank all patriotic citizens for useful efforts that include sharing information and offering prayers which are immensely valuable.

ISA UMAR GUSAU
Special Adviser on Communications
March 15,2014.