Military recovers 158 sheep, goats, 14 cows from Boko Haram

Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army deployed under Operation Lafiya Dole,  handed over 158 sheep, goats and 14 cows recovered from Boko Haram insurgents to the Borno State Government.

The animals were said to have been recovered during a clean operation along Maiduguri-Dalwa axis in Kinnduga Local Government Area of Borno State. The idea is for the government to locate the real owners of the animals and hand them over.

Handing over the recovered livestock to the Borno State Government at the headquarters of Molai Super Camp, Maiduguri, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abdul Ibrahim, said: “We invited you here to handover 158 sheep, goats and 14 cows recovered by our troops along Maiduguri- Dakwa axis during operations.

Ibrahim added: “All these livestock were recovered by our troop during a clearance operation in January 2020. We’re handing over these livestock to the Borno State Government based on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff. Lt General Tukur Buratai, and the theater Commander General Adeniyi, for onward handing over to their rightful owners. We shall continue to work hard and deal with insurgents. The government is in better position to contact and hand over these livestock to their rightful owners.”

He also reiterated the military warning to motorists and commuters plying Maiduguri- Dsmbia - Biu road not to give penny to anybody under the guise of providing logistics to the Army. He said that the army had provided the troop with the needed logistics.

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, while responding, thanked the military for sacrificing their lives in order to keep the state safe. He noted that the government and Borno State will forever remain indebted to the military for restoring peace to the Northeast.

Zulum, who was represented by the Borno State Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Honourable Sugun Mai Mele, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I received these livestock for onward handing over to their rightful owners. This is not the first time we are receiving such from the military. The other time, we received over 300 cows, which were recovered from Boko Haram by the military along Maiduguri- Auno-Jakana axis. We invited the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and they identified and ascertained the rightful owners.”

He commended the COAS for reopening the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road. He said that the opening of the door will go a long way to ease the hardship of Borno State people.