Over 18,000 Residents Of Tungushe Community In Borno Lack Basic Social Amenities

Tungushe, a once burgeoning farming community, 29.0 km away from Maiduguri metrop­olis, which was hitherto ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency in the early 2010, is now a sigh of hope to over 18,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from five different local government areas of Borno state who are now refugees in the community.

This feat was achieved by the gallant troops of Operations Hadin Kai (OPHK), who fought tirelessly to dislodge the Boko Haram elements, reclaiming and resettling not only the in­digenes of the community, but other displaced indigenes of the state from other displaced local councils.

Kudos should be given to the military, especially the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, for his visionary leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Theatre Commander, Opera­tions Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, whose resilience and professionalism have been a big motivation for troops in the counterterrorism in North East theatre.

Since the recapturing of Tungushe from Boko Haram, troops of OPHK Forward Op­erating Base (FOB), Tungushe have continued to maintain se­curity in the community, giving the local farmers the confidence to continue their farming activ­ities unhindered by the terror­ists.

Sunday Independent gath­ered that, life at the community is deprived of fear, tension and apprehension due to the pres­ence, vigilance and operation­al readiness of troops of FOB Tungushe under the command of Captain Kabiru Musa.

During the recent Media Tour of Operations Hadin Kai, North East by members of the Defence Correspondents, led by Group Captain Ibrahim Bukar, a Deputy Director, Defence Me­dia Operations (DMO), Captain Musa, the Commander of FOB Tungushe noted that, “Life has returned to Tungushe commu­nity. This is the most important thing.”

According to Captain Musa, “Our responsibility here is not just to hold ground, but to en­sure that the people who live here can go about their daily activities without fear.

“We don’t go for bounties, unnecessary patrols or exces­sive checkpoints. Our presence alone has changed the situation. The locals themselves can tell you that they now move freely within the general area.

“Tungushe carries a long and painful history of Boko Haram insurgency. From the early 2010s, Boko Haram activ­ities defined life here. But today, we are here, and by the grace of God, things are moving normal­ly again.

“With the kind of support we receive from the top, we are able to do our jobs without distraction. The emphasis is on protecting civilians and creating a secure environment where normal life can take root again.”

It is crystal clear that the Mil­itary High Command is doing everything possible to liberate and clear all communities for resettlement of displaced in­digenes, however, “it is not yet uhuru to return IDPs to their communities when such places are still wrought with a deficit of basic social amenities.

“Despite the assurance of peace, stability and security in the area, life is not rosy for the already traumatised residents due to lack of basic social ame­nities such as clean drinking water, healthcare facilities, lack of access to education, and other basic necessities of life.

During the media tour, Sun­day Independent authoritative­ly reports that most residents, especially women and children were seen empty gallons scam­pering for water as water scarci­ty hits the community so hard.