The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has pledged the military’s full support to Borno State following the devastating floods that have severely impacted the region. Accompanied by top military officers, General Musa visited Maiduguri on Thursday to extend sympathy to the government and people of Borno, assuring them of continued assistance in recovery efforts.
During a meeting with Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, General Musa expressed his condolences and acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the flooding. “Flooding is often difficult to predict and mitigate, but we pray such incidents will not happen again,” he stated. General Musa assured the governor that the armed forces were ready to assist in addressing challenges caused by the disaster.
Governor Zulum, in response, thanked the military for its crucial role in rescue operations and humanitarian support. “Without the support of the military, we would have lost more lives,” Zulum noted. He also conveyed his gratitude to the service chiefs for their visit, saying, “When the President visited, I asked him to convey Borno State’s deepest gratitude to the military for their tireless efforts during this critical period.”
The governor further highlighted that security in Borno had improved significantly, noting that peace had gradually returned to the state, with over 90 percent improvement in the security situation.
General Musa and the service chiefs also visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garba, where the defense chief offered prayers for those who lost their lives and livelihoods in the floods. The Shehu expressed his appreciation to the military for their unrelenting support, particularly commending the theater commander and his team for their swift response during the flooding.
While addressing troops of Operation Hadin Kai, General Musa praised their prompt response during the disaster and encouraged them to remain focused on their primary duties. He conveyed special greetings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and emphasized the importance of remaining committed to diminishing the capabilities of criminals in the region. “More needs to be done to assist the state in recovering from the flood, but your efforts so far have been commendable,” Musa stated.
He also assured the troops that their welfare needs would be addressed to meet evolving demands, pledging that the military leadership would provide the necessary equipment to enable them to effectively carry out their tasks.
General Musa was joined on the visit by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and other senior military officers, including the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.
