Boko Haram victim cries to Zulum for help
A victim of Boko Haram attack, Adam Musa Mole, whose business was destroyed at ShuwariMole community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, has appealed to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to come to his aid to enable him begin life again.
Mole, who came all the way to the corporate headquarters of Media Trust Limited, Abuja, publishers of Daily Trust newspapers, to narrate his ordeal, said life had not been easy for him since he lost his goods worth millions of naira to Boko Haram attack sometime in May 2019.
The former big-time dealer in assorted foodstuff said his two shops, which were fully stocked with goods, were completely razed during an attack by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said Governor Zulum paid a sympathy visit to the area after the attack and promised to offer assistance to victims to enable them begin life again.
According to him, the governor asked victims of the attack to write a letter to him through the commissioner for youths and sports, Saina Buba, detailing all the things they lost, to enable the state government support them.
He is, however, worried that help was yet to come his way over one year after the governor’s promise.
Narrating his ordeal, Mole said, “The attack happened on May 7, 2019. It was at 5.45pm that the attack happened. They attacked our village and burnt my two shops and others in the area. They killed 12 people in the attack. I lost everything I had in the shops.
“I am facing serious challenges, as fending for my family has been tough. I have nine biological children. In addition, I am taking care of eight children and two widows of my elder brother, who was killed by Boko Haram.
“I want the governor to assist me. I know he is compassionate and has the people at heart, and he can help me. My business has stopped. I am not doing anything. I want him to help me start my life again.”
But reacting, the commissioner for youths and sports, Buba Saina said, it was the prerogative of the governor to decide who to assist, adding that government “should not be pushed to the wall as if it is an issue of blackmail.”
“The governor has the prerogative to prioritise those to assist. Last time, they went to the NTA and held a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, where they made unpleasant comments the government was not happy with.
“If you write to the governor to assist you, can’t you wait until he comes to assist you? I take this to be blackmail. Why can’t they talk to media houses in Maiduguri, why go to Abuja?”, he said.
He said the major focus of the governor was on how to resettle displaced people in order to decongest the town.