Following the recent attacks across Borno state, the Nigerian Army and the police have commenced a new security exercise, subjecting travellers, including elders and children, to a two-kilometre foot walk when crossing the checkpoint into Yobe before heading to Borno State.
Recall, PUNCH Online earlier reported that the Yobe State Police Command has issued a security alert ahead of the Sallah festivities following recent bomb explosions in Maiduguri.
In a statement released on Tuesday by its spokesperson, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the command expressed sympathy with the government and people of Borno State over the incidents, which reportedly occurred around 6:30 p.m. on March 16 at multiple locations within Maiduguri.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Tactical Units, and Intelligence Departments to ensure robust security coverage at worship centres, recreational facilities, public parks, and other strategic locations,” the statement said.
Also Read: FG deploys tactical assets to tame insurgency in Borno State
Our correspondent, while assessing security measures across the region on Wednesday, gathered that travellers are currently expected to walk about 2 km to ‘Welcome to Damaturu’, the capital of Yobe State.
Elders and travellers heading towards Borno state commended the initiative but requested a more civil-oriented approach that respects the health, rights, and well-being of travellers.
One of the travellers, Habib Zanna, 69, who narrated the ordeal to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, said the military personnel and police officers are not considerate of age.
“This is very harsh. There should be a consideration for at least age and health. The distance is around 2 km. This is us returning to what we left behind. For how long Nigerians will suffer like this?” he said.
Another traveller, Aisha Gambo, said the new measures will further compound challenges commuters face in the North-East, while urging the government to assess the decision to prioritise citizens’ health and wellbeing
“I have a fracture in my legs, and despite fasting and the long distance, I had to trek almost 2 kilometres. In this modern age, there should be better alternatives, even if it means scanning vehicles and asking everyone to come down and scan or check them, rather than this long walk. This just further compounds the challenges commuters face in Nigeria’s Northeast,” she said.
“I even approached the soldiers to express my feelings. The guy on duty only responded that he was following orders. Aside from myself, you will see women backing their babies and sweating inside the hot sun while attempting to cross,” another traveller, Sarah Bwala, recounted.
She also expressed fear that the trekking travellers are also exposed to risk, saying terrorists may take advantage to strike.
“As we are trekking, all I was praying for was that terrorists should not even strike us from the empty, deserted lands we are plying,” she added.
Recall that PUNCH on Monday reported a triple bomb blast in Maiduguri, Borno State, where 23 persons were killed and 108 severely injured.
The police confirmed the attack, noting that the investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident
A statement on Tuesday by the Spokesperson of the Borno state police command, ASP Nahum Daso, said: “The scenes were immediately secured, cordoned off, and subjected to thorough sweep operations by Police Explosive Ordnance Unit Base 13 Maiduguri to rule out the presence of any additional threats.”
He, however, called on residents to be security-conscious and vigilant in their day-to-day activities.
The military had also warned of the possible deployment of multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, urging residents to avoid crowded places.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Media Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sanni Uba, said the attacks targeted crowded public areas in an attempt by the terrorists to inflict mass casualties and create panic within the metropolis.
“Preliminary information further indicates that the terrorists may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri with the intention of carrying out coordinated suicide bombings at crowded locations. Security forces have therefore intensified surveillance, patrols, and counter-IED measures across the metropolis to track down any remaining suspects and prevent further attacks,” Sanni assured.
PUNCH
