Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya on Tuesday advised the army to move the De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration camp domiciled in Kwami LGA to it University in Biu.
Yahaya made this disclosure while receiving Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Ali, General Officer Commanding 3 division in charge of Operation Safe Heaven at the Government House.
He said despite providing shelter for the federal government’s initiative non of her indigenes have passed through the camp, stressing that the state is shouldering enormous burden.
Recall that the DRR camp has de-radicalised, rehabilitated hundreds of repentant Boko Haram members mainly from other parts of the North East, in a multi-million naira state government built facility for the National Youth Service Corps orientation exercise.
Yahaya said, “Gombe has been hosting the De-radicalization camp for the past six years, it was supposed to be temporarily for six months now it has turned to be a permanent feature and the security authorities are even looking for expansion.
“Since the establishment of that outfit not even one person from Gombe has been taken to the De-radicalization or rehabilitation. We are just playing host trying to help our neighbours. As a result, we should not be made to suffer for hosting such a facility.
“Other wise, if you like take it to Military university at Biu, and make it a faculty that is not our problem, there is need for us to have a symbiotic relationship, if you scratch ours while we scratch yours that is the only way we can move forward.”
Yahaya lamented how due to the security challenges getting approval for the movement of urea which is used for manufacturing fertilizer to Gombe, adding that hunger may worsen the problems faced by the people.
“Close to 80 percent of our people are peasant farmers recently despite approval from defence headquarters, we were not able to bring urea which because it is believed that it is being used to produce explosives and that some misguided people are using it.
“But, since 2015 there was never an issue again of explosives in Gombe. If you don’t allow people to operate on the farm, there will be no security and thee will be no food double jeopardy is the situation now. Gombe has resuscitated fertilizer blender but despite approval from chief of army staff, guarantee from GOC and local command here at the end the national security adviser didn’t approve that we bring Urea. But, if you go to the market you find Urea being sold which means somewhere someplace there is a missing link and people can go and buy in the market,” Yahaya added.
Speaking earlier, General Officer Commanding 3 division Ali, lauded the contributions of the governor to his men.
He noted that the governor should not be tired of extending supports, adding that there is an urgent need for the 301 artillery currently within the Gombe metropolis to be moved for ease on administration.
“We want to really thank you for the logistics support, cooperation,” Ali said.
