Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi has urge members of NURTW not to tax commuters in the name of collecting token for security on the road
Just as he warned that anyone caught extorting money from motorists would be treated as a criminal.
He maintained that Army headquarters have made adequate provisions for our logistics, so extorting money from commuters is bribery and it is criminal.”
Adeniyi spoke at the opening of Maiduguri Damboa road which has been closed for more than 13 months
He also urged commuters to take the road as their own and always avail security agencies with useful information on Boko Haram activities.
“Drivers should shun any act of compromise with the Boko Haram terrorists by helping them with fuel, spare parts and other logistics on the road”
“As this road opens today, all hands must be on deck for it to remain so open. “I will like to urge all commuters plying this road to take it as their own and always avail the theater command and other security agencies all the necessary information that could help us keep the road open.
“I also want to reiterate the need for drivers to shun the B/Haram’s blackmail of asking commuters to drop fuel for them by the road side or buy spare parts for them for the propagation of their heinous criminal acts.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the road was being reopened for the second time as it was first reopened in 2016 and later closed again for strategic reasons.
“Today’s reopening is quite unique in the sense that we have achieved the objective of the closure of this road and henceforth, the road will be opened all the days of the week.
“We have provided enough security along this road and by the grace of God, we will have minimal insecurity along this road. “I want to commend the effort of the state government for blazing the trail to see that this road is further reinforced with additional vehicles and the deployment of the Civilian JTF and the Vigilante to support the efforts of the military in securing this road and indeed all other roads across the state. “We must acknowledge the contributions of all the other services, the Navy and the Air Force, because the Air force is not left behind in providing the aerial surveillance and cover along this road as the commuters use the road ,” he said.
Buratai stated that the road was not only opened from Maiduguri to Damboa but equally from Damboa to Biu, assuring that troops had been directed to provide all the needed security in all axis.
He also emphasised that the opening of the road would not lead to suspension of military operations on the route. “We will still continue with our operations, and even if we are going to interfere with movement, it is going to be for a very short period in order to protect the people plying this road. “So, be rest assured and travel with confidence. “You have strategic locations where troops are deployed, the civilian JTF are deployed, the Nigerian police is also deployed to provide you with the needed security,” he said.
The Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, during the re-opening, commended the efforts of the army in ensuring that the road was reopened. He also commended the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, towards security in the state and other parts of the country.
