Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has announced plans to subsidise petrol for farmers at ₦600 per litre as part of recovery measures for insurgency-affected communities, following the killing of 63 people by Boko Haram insurgents in Darajamal, Bama Local Government Area.
Zulum made the announcement on Saturday during a condolence visit to the devastated community, where he met grieving families and community leaders. The victims, including five soldiers and 58 civilians, were attacked on Friday night. Many of them had only recently returned home after years of displacement.
Visibly shaken, the governor described the tragedy as a major setback for resettlement efforts in the state, but promised government support.
“Our visit is to commiserate with the people of Darajamal over what happened last night that claimed many lives,” he said.
“This community was resettled a few months ago, but unfortunately, they experienced another Boko Haram attack. We are here to console them and build their resilience.” he added.
Zulum also confirmed that the state had completed the training of two batches of Forest Guards, whom he directed to be deployed immediately to vulnerable areas to support the overstretched military.
“The numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere,” he said. “One of the solutions we need to implement immediately is to deploy Forest Guards to protect forests and communities.”
Meanwhile, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central, condemned the killings, describing them as a “crime against humanity” that highlighted the urgent need for greater security reinforcements in the state.
