Shettima, Defence Head, NEMA DG visit victims of Maiduguri bombings

…CDS says Borno, Yobe residents must resolve to end Boko Haram / ISWAP war

Vice President Kashim Shettima has, for the umpteen time, condemned Monday deadly explosions in Maiduguri, orno State Capital, describing the killings as senseless and unjustifiable, urging all Nigerians to support the Military against the recent setbacks.

Shettima spoke shortly after visiting the wounded at UMTH Maiduguri, expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of 25 victims.

He prayed for the victims and urged Nigerians to seek divine guidance for the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for intensified prayers for peace and stability in the Country.

He urged citizens to sustain the values of discipline, humility, and service beyond the Holy Month.

In Shettima’s entourage, Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), was also there to express sympathy for the victims of the recent Maiduguri bombings.

She donated foods and non-foods items to support the recovery of the victims, which include: Rice (25kg) bags 1000, Spaghetti (20 pkts of 500g) cartons 400, Vegetable oil ( 5 liters x 4 ) cartons 100, Seasoning cube cartons 100, 100 cartons of tomato paste (50 x sachet) bags 100, 100 bags of iodized salt (20kg) bags 100.

Other items for women, such as clothes pieces 700, Men’s clothes pieces 700, Children’s clothes pieces: 575, and Detergent cartons: 150.

Medical items distributed include Ringer’s Lactate; 20 bags/carton, Carton 12, Normal Saline x 20/carton, Examination Glove 10pkts/carton, Metronidazole IV; 100 bottles/carton, Carton 12, Crepe Bandage 6″12 pcs/roll, Roll 2,4. Pentazocine Inj30 mg x10 amps Pkts 84
Tetanus Toxoid IV; 50 amps/box, Giving Set IV; 50pcs/bag Bag, Diclofenac 75mg IV x 10 amps Pkts 120 and others.

However, Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence, has urged residents of Borno and Yobe States to take responsibility for the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP, saying the effort requires active support from local communities, not shielding the terrorists.

He spoke during an interview with journalists in Maiduguri on Wednesday, saying the Military remains in control and is continuing operations across affected areas.

Oluyede asked residents to stay alert and share credible information with Security Agencies, noting that local support is key to identifying and stopping threats.

“It’s true that attacks for the last month, well, it’s not new, because it comes most times of the week, but you know that we’re doing our very best to checkmate this. I will continue to do that, but I’m here today to ensure that this will not repeat itself in the future. So we’re looking at modalities and lessons learned so that this won’t happen again.

“But I must say something here, this challenge must be something that we’ve been going all around for the past 15 years, there about and I want to put it out here clearly this afternoon, that for us to end this act of terrorism, the people of Borno and Yobe states must take ownership of this problem, because the bulk of the people perpetuating this heinous act are from the States.

“They are our brothers, our sisters, our cousins, and we know them. I’ll give you an example, basically, when reviewing our aftermath analysis, two of the people who came to attack Kukawa town, after the attack, the wounded ones were inside their village. That means the people are complicit. To bring this to an end, all hands must be on deck.

“Our people must resolve that this has to come to an end, and we must take ownership of this problem. That is my message to the people of Bono, and you’re wasting today”, he said.

He said recent attacks show the insurgents are still active but under pressure from ongoing Military operations.

Oluyede also said two terrorists injured during the recent attack in Kukawa are from the community, pointing to the role of locals helping the terrorists against their own people.

He arrived in Maiduguri with Waidi Shaibu, Lieutenant- General and Chief of Army Staff, to assess the security situation and oversee operations.

The visit followed a directive by President Tinubu, ordering Service Chiefs to move to the North-East after a series of attacks, including a bomb blast that killed more than 20 people and injured over 100.

Military officials received them at the Air Force Base in Maiduguri.

The deployment is part of efforts to strengthen operations and improve security across the Region.