Borno encourages free movement of faithful

Against all speculations, the Borno State Government, for the first time in a couple of years, allowed faithful in the state to celebrate the event without encumbrances.

Governor Kashim Shettima, who gave the hint yesterday in Maiduguri, the state capital, said: “After extensive deliberations, the key actors in security in the state unanimously resolved that we want to give our people dignity. We want them to have a feel of what it was to celebrate and we have resolved not to restrict movement during this year’s Eid-el Fitri.”

Residents had been restricted since 2011 following upsurge in violence by the Islamic Boko Haram terrorist group.

Over a dozen people were killed at a praying ground last year in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital during the celebrations.

Shettima noted that the improvement in security prompted the State Security Council to declare this year’s celebration free of any ban or restriction, urging the people to be very vigilant.

“We will intensify security checks around the city but we will not restrict movement,” the governor stated.

He also appealed to the people to be at the various praying grounds in time without bags as security agencies and the civilian JTF had been mandated to conduct thorough checks on the people.

Shettima noted that the security measures put in place were not deliberate attempt to cause discomfort to the people but to ensure security of lives and property.

“People should bear with us and cooperate with the security agencies. The security measures are for our good,” he added

The governor said the state government had paid the allowances of members of the civilian JTF (CJTF) just as he disclosed that N10 million had been approved for payment to those not registered.

He charged the CJTF men and women to be up and doing during the festival and collaborate with the military and other security agencies.

Shettima, however, commended military personnel other security agencies for their sacrifices in ensuring that lives were secured even at their inconvenience.