With the handing over of liberated communities in North-East geopolitical zone of the country, by the military, Damaturu-Biu road, is now safe for motorists and other commercial activities, the General Officer
Commanding (GOC) of 3 Division of Nigeria Army, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Aliyu has said.

The liberated communities were handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC); and other security agencies for their routine duties, before the displaced persons in camps could return.

The handling over exercise preceded stakeholder’s meetings at the instance of the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen Umaru Hassan in Maiduguri on Thursday

At the meeting, he said although the military operations had been on for over six years with significant progress, the Nigerian Army is now willing to bring the operations to an end.

The Police, NSCDC, Department of State Security Services (DSS), Immigrations, Nigerian Customs Services, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), FRSC, Nigerian Prison Service, and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) attended the meeting.

The 130-kilomtre Damaturu-Biu road cuts through the Sambisa
Forests, from where the Boko Haram launched attacks on towns and villages in Borno, Adamawa and Borno states.

After inspecting a blown up Katarko bridge, Aliyu said the the military is committed to allowing movements of people, goods and other services along the road.

“This road is one of the strategic entry points to Yobe and Borno states from other parts of the North-East states and the country as a whole, which was under the control of Boko Haram terrorists; but the military reclaimed it last year to open this strategic road linking so many communities,”

He continued: “Opening up commercial activities along this road is significant to our current military operations in the North-east geopolitical zone of the country, considering the strategic nature of the road and its economic significance to the people of Yobe and Borno state.”