By Victor Akaa.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Thursday visited Maiduguri, Borno State to commiserate with Governor Professor Babagana Zulum and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garba, over the recent devastating floods that ravaged the state.
Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said the CDS was accompanied by the service chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar and the representative of the Chief of the Naval Staff on a solidarity visit over the unfortunate incident of flood disaster.
During his address at the Government House in Maiduguri, General Musa expressed heartfelt sympathies to the government and people of Borno State, acknowledging the unpredictability and severity of the flooding.
He emphasized the challenges of mitigating such disasters and prayed for the well-being of those affected. The CDS assured Governor Zulum that the Armed Forces would continue to provide unwavering support to address the aftermath of the flooding.
Governor Zulum expressed profound gratitude to General Musa and the military for their solidarity visit and rescue efforts, stating that “without the support of the military, by now we would have lost more lives.”
He also reported that he had conveyed Borno State’s deepest appreciation to the President for the military’s invaluable assistance during this critical period. Furthermore, Governor Zulum highlighted the significant security improvement, with a remarkable 90% reduction in insecurity, and noted that peace is gradually returning to Borno.
At the Shehu of Borno Palace, General Musa offered condolences to the families of the deceased and commiserated with those who lost their livelihoods.
He thanked the Shehu for his paternal prayers and reassured him that Borno remains a home to him.
The Shehu of Borno reciprocated by thanking General Musa and his entourage for their tireless efforts in supporting Maiduguri, particularly the Theater Commander and his team, who provided relentless assistance to flood victims.
Earlier, General Musa addressed troops, accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Defence Intelligence. He commended their prompt response and rescue operations during the flooding, acknowledging the complexity of their task.
General Musa urged the troops to remain focused on their primary duties while pledging to provide the necessary equipment to execute their tasks effectively.
Additionally, General Musa conveyed special greetings from the President, commending the troops’ bravery. He appealed for enhanced focus and commitment to diminishing criminal capabilities, promising to address the welfare needs of the troops to meet evolving demands.
