From Uche Uche, Damaturu
Yobe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has visited Niger Republic to persuade over 4,000 residents of the state, who fled the Boko Haram crisis, to return.
Gaidam, who was in Maine Soroa in Niger Republic on Saturday to see more than 4,000 Gaidam, Kanamma and Yunusari residents that fled to Niger recently as a result of the attacks on their towns by Boko Haram militants, was conducted round by the premier (Governor) of Diffa region, Alhaji Yakuba Usman.
Usman revealed that over 4,000 people were offered shelter in the area with 1,385 out of the number been camped and fed by Niger Government while 3,000 refuges lived with friends and relatives in Maine Soroa town.
Addressing the refugees, Gaidam promised that the state government would extend support to them, but asked them to return home, noting that more military operatives would be deplored in the area to beef up security.
Some of the displaced persons expressed regret that security forces fled their towns as the terrorists invaded their communities, calling for the timely intervention of the government to enable them to return to their homes.
The governor also visited Geidam in the northern part of the state to commiserate with the people and to assure them of support after the devastating attacks.
Gaidam, who inspected the military base in the area, the divisional police station, the local government secretariat and the Geidam market as well as other damaged public and private property, assured the people of the town of his government’s support.
The governor expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks and the people of the town, describing the attacks as wicked, sinful and brutal.
