95% Of Damboa Ravaged By Boko Haram, Say Community Leaders

By Blogger

(Leadership) Aug 11, 2014 

As soldiers reclaimed the seized town of Damboa from the Boko Haram terrorists last week, leaders of the ravaged community said the agrarian town remains uninhabitable for now until government steps in to help would-be returnees to rebuild their homes and business premises.

Damboa has suffered repeated attacks by Boko Haram members for more than six times in the last two years, with the worst being the July attack which led   to the sack of both military and civilian residents.

Concerned elders of Damboa felt the town and its over 15,000 would-be returnees need both local and international support to bounce back to life.

At a save-our-soul press conference organized in Maiduguri yesterday by the Damboa Forum, the chairman of the body, Comrade Modu Shettima, said at least 95 percent of the town was destroyed by the insurgents.

“Our people, who are still sleeping in displaced people’s camps, deserve special intervention from the state, federal and international donors.

“Our dear town, Damboa, had been a thriving farming and fishing community for many years which is now in ruins and its people in distress,” Shettima said.

“Almost all the houses, public buildings and security structures in the town were burnt down and rebuilding them remains a big challenge for the displaced who are yearning to go back home”.

“We believe the whole world knows what happened in Damboa where many people were killed. We pray God to grant their soul eternal rest.

“We are worried about the plight of our people. When would they return and how they would start a new life amidst daunting challenges because of the fact that the insurgents have destroyed everything.

“We thank the Nigerian security forces for mobilizing troops back to Damboa to protect our people. We are however appealing to both the Federal and Borno State government to provide shelter for our people,” Shettima said.

“We thank the emir of Biu Alhaji Umar Mustapha Aliyu and the member representing Biu in the Borno State House of Assembly, Mamman Kachalla Aliyu for their supporting; and most importantly, we remain eternally grateful to the Borno state government for helping to keep our people safe in various camps