265 Policemen Killed In Borno Since Insurgency Outbreak

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The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has ordered the
allocation of land to Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) for
the establishment of a skills acquisition centre that will train
widows and orphans of deceased police personnel.

The governor also ordered the renovation of the Police Primary
School in Maiduguri.

Zulum gave the directives on Saturday while receiving the wife
of the Inspector General of Police (IG), who is POWA’s President,
Hajiya Hajara Usman Alkali, at the Government House in
Maiduguri.

The IG’s wife, had during her remarks, informed Governor Zulum
about the deplorable condition of the Police Primary School in
Maiduguri, seeking the governor’s intervention.

She also requested the allocation of land to POWA for the
establishment of a skills acquisition centre through which the
association plans to train widows and orphans of policemen.

At an event welcoming Hajara Alkali, POWA president and wife of
IGP Usman Baba Alkali, over the weekend in Maiduguri, the chairman
Borno State POWA, Zara Yakubu, said that over 260 police officers
have been killed in Borno State since the outbreak of the Boko
Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

“Their families have, as a result, been exposed to all forms of
hazards and vulnerabilities,” POWA said.

“It heartbreaking to note that 265 police officers have paid the
supreme price in the counter-insurgency war here in Borno. They
lost their lives while protecting the territorial integrity of our
great country.

“Their families have been neglected and their children abandoned
to their fate. They have been allowed to bear the burden of the
sacrifices of their bread winners,” Zara Yakubu noted.

In response, wife of the IGP said she was determined to improve
the living conditions of the families of the fallen officers as
well as empower others, to serve as motivation for their husbands
at the war front.

She donated grinding machines, deep freezers, tailoring
equipment and other items to 500 widows of fallen police
officers.

Zulum, in his response, promptly gave directives for the
rehabilitation works that will be carried out after a needs
evaluation.

The governor also directed the Borno State Geographic
information services (BOGIS) to immediately identify and allocate a
suitable land to POWA.

The IG’s wife, who hails from Borno State, commended Zulum for
his laudable efforts towards restoration of peace and progressive
development to the state.

She said: “Borno is the first northern state we are visiting
after Lagos, Rivers, and Ogun States. We are here because of the
way you carry everybody along. You are not discriminating against
any human being.”

She also commended Zulum’s humanitarian services to internally
displaced persons (IDPs) and to families of security personnel that
have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Meanwhile, the governor has paid tribute to the Borno State
Police Command in respecting the rights of citizens.

He said: “The Nigeria Police are doing very well in Borno State.
When the cases of police brutality in communities in Nigeria was
raised, Borno State was the first state to publicly acknowledge
contributions of the Nigeria Police towards respecting citizens’
rights, while safeguarding lives and property. In fact, the Borno
State House of Assembly even passed a vote of confidence on the
Nigeria Police for the good works they are doing.”

He also thanked them for their sacrifices, noting that the
police has played and still playing significant roles in Borno’s
growing stability and restoration of civil authorities,
particularly in local government areas.