No fewer than nine people have been confirmed dead and four others injured following an attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Malam Fatori, a town in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred approximately 272 kilometres from the state capital, Maiduguri, and has drawn a response from the Borno State Government, which sent a delegation to commiserate with the affected community.
Sugun Mai Mele, Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, led the delegation on behalf of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who is currently on an official trip abroad.
“We are here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who is out of the country on an official assignment to condole with the people of Malam Fatori over the recent unfortunate attack,” Mele said in a statement issued on Sunday.
He assured the community that the government, in collaboration with the military, would take additional steps to secure the area. According to him, Malam Fatori holds strategic importance for the state and remains a priority in the government’s efforts to stabilise the region.
To bolster the town’s defences, Mele announced plans to deploy excavators to dig trenches around the local government headquarters to deter future attacks from Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents. He also warned residents against collaborating with insurgents, stating, “Anyone found guilty would face divine consequences.”
In a gesture of support, the government disbursed ₦500,000 to each bereaved family and ₦250,000 to each of the four injured victims.
Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, also addressed the community, disclosing plans to resettle an additional 3,000 displaced households in Malam Fatori. This would bring the total number of resettled families to 5,000.
“Already, Borno State Government had resettled 2,000 households, and the government is planning to resettle another 3,000 households soon,” Tar said.
He added that necessary security arrangements and resources would be provided to support the returnees and ensure the stability of the area. Tar urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
