TELL Magazine

Borno State Government has donated some parts of the Sambisa forest, previously occupied by Boko Haram terrorists for the implementation of the controversial Rural Grazing Area, RUGA, programme.

Babagana Umara, governor of the state said the donation was made to encourage farming and herding activities across the state.

The governor assured that his government would deploy an Emergency Rapid Response Team, ERRT, comprising of security personnel – 500 troops and hunters that know the terrain of the forest to protect commuters and rural dwellers against Boko Haram insurgent and bandits.  

He also disclosed that his administration is determined to strengthen the security architecture to encourage farming and herding activities across the state.

“We are also distributing 80 patrols vehicles to the response team so that farmers, herders and commuters could as well travel within a radius of 30 to 40 kilometers of Maiduguri metropolis.

“About 75 trained agro rangers and 300 hunters will be mobilized next week to enable farmers cultivate their farmlands that were prevented by Terrorist activities.

“The state government is determined to address the root causes of insurgency through improved security, fight against drug abuse and enhance food security with increased job creation among unemployed youths,” the governor said.