The pace at which peace is fast returning to Yobe, the 33-year-old state in the Northeast Nigeria with the unfortunate history of being hit by insurgency, forms the thrust of this piece by ABDULRAHMAN A. ABDULRAUF
They gathered in clusters and groups looking ecstatic and brimming with smiles. The grinding machines and similar others clattered almost at the same level with trucks loading cattle for an outward movement down south. Also, the little girls, who before now were always the targets of the weird Boko Haram insurgents, scattered across the markets selling their wares. The sight of hefty men, some dressed in the uniform of the local vigilantes, and others engaging in various legitimate businesses, all pointing in one direction and suggesting that it’s now business unusual for the evil-minded agents of destruction called Boko Harm.
The above paints a picture of life at the Nguru International Modern Market, named after a renowned cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Ngibirima. The beehive of activities in the historic town, and of course others within the state, are clear pointers that the 33-year-old state is fast shaking off the burden of insurgency it had to battle with for well over a decade.
Mohammad, who sells dates, puts it this way: “We are indeed grateful to Almighty Allah that we are enjoying a new lease of life after so many years that we were confronted with insurgency. Can anybody ever think of return of sanity in this state after years of destruction? Today, we move about freely and engage in our businesses. So, across the state, I can say that we are enjoying our life and doing businesses.”
…The journey
And as a demonstration of the new reality, the visiting journalists who had converged on Damaturu, the state capital, Monday, May 24, were conducted round some of the projects the five-year-old Mai Mala Buni administration had carried out. These basically are in the areas of roads, health, education, housing and agriculture among several others.
And to everyone’s chagrin, with the convoy of four vehicles with Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Abdullahi Bego ahead as the guide, the team drove through a well-paved 297-kilometre well-laid asphalted road to Machina (remember Yobe 2023 senatorial contest?) en route Baba Aura, Gada, Jamnel, Buduwa, Jakusho, Jajimaji, Nguru and a pocket of other settlements.
The presence of the military and other sister agencies also compliments the air of peace blowing across the state. And put together, the about 600-kilometer journe was characterised by discussions around personal and national issues among the journalists
According to DistanceFrom.com, Damaturu to Machina is a distance of 297 kilometers and driving time of 4hr.26 minutes. So, it was really a delight to know that the journey which lasted almost 9 hours (to and fro) ran late into the night with no security agent to lead the way at the front and also provide cover at the back. So, it was with Keke NAPEP, who carried passengers and their hefty loads, for a distance of 50-70 kilometres. Further to this, the donkey-riding farmers as well as herders of sheep, goats and cattle were another sight to behold.
Also savouring the peace that was once rare to come by in the state, were farmers, who in their multitude, still used the traditional method to plant, weed and plough the soil. This should not be the lot of an agrarian state like Yobe.
However, it’s heartwarming that the state government assured it was planning a mega farming project, scheduled for flag-off July. State-of- the art farming implements as well as improved seedlings, will be rolled out while the farmers will be incentivised to give their best in doing what they know how to do best.
And the dangerous fun, which of course caught the fancy of all, was that of passengers sitting atop moving vehicles at different points on the road. In all of this, it is significant to know that Yobe has truly demonstrated its readiness to play host to big time investors, giving the level of peace that has returned to the once beleaguered state.
Bego was later to tell the visiting journalists that “we embarked on that long journey so you all can see things for yourself and on your own. We are ready for business and the only condition for any business to thrive is having a peaceful environment. Yes, you can have the road, the cargo airport and other infrastructure like we have them here, where there is no peace, no business can thrive. So, we want you all to tell the outside world we in Yobe state, have put behind us the ugly past that came with the insurgency and ready to move on.”
…How the peace is being achieved
Speaking at a parley with the team after the tour, Governor Buni recalled the sorry state of security in the state when he took over the mantle of leadership in 2019, with many communities being caged by the insurgents.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Mallam Wali, the governor said: “As most of us here may recall when we took over the mantle of leadership on 29th May, 2019, there were many communities that remained inaccessible due to the threat posed by the insurgents in Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas.
“With our commitment backed by the Federal Government, gallantry of the security operatives, complementary efforts of the vigilante groups and the persistent prayers of our people, normalcy has returned to the insurgency most-ravaged areas and reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation of communities e.g Buni-Yadi have been developed while that of Malamdunari is being carried out satisfactorily at present. In almost all parts of the State, people are now moving about pursuing their legitimate goals without hindrance.”
…Hybrid Force
Dropping further hint on how peace is returning to the state,Buni’s Special Adviser on Security, Brig. Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (retd.), said the state government decided on the use of ‘Hybrid Force, with some Boko Haram repentants being brought on aboard in its efforts at tackling the insurgency, especially in Geidam.
“There is no government that will take any decision that is to the detriment of its people. The government is committed to ending insurgency so that we can have peace.
“We have these repentant Boko Haram insurgents called ‘Hybrid Force’ that have been assisting security agencies in conducting operations in Damaturu, Goniri and Buni Yadi.
“First, they assist with information about insurgents, through their sources that are still with Boko Haram and ISWAP. Secondly, they assist with information about Boko Haram and ISWAP collaborators and suppliers.”
“In Geidam, there are people engaging in business activities on behalf of Boko Haram. There are those that supply food, fuel and other essentials to the insurgents.
“The hybrid forces had identified persons having links with Boko Haram leadership and their supply chain. As a result of this, 12 people have been arrested, interrogated in Geidam and transferred to Damaturu,” Abdulsalam said.
To sustain the present tempo of peace in the state, observers are urging the state government to engage the youth in creative thinking and also rev up the security awareness among the people to avoid a relapse into insurgency. With this, they submit, the subsisting peace will attract investors and tourists to the state and also shore up its revenue base that will ultimately lead to improved standard of living among its people.
