The Defence Headquarters may deploy additional troops to Yobe State following Saturday’s attack on Government Secondary School, Mamudo near Potiskum, Yobe State, in which 32 students were killed.
Hint on this emerged on Wednesday following a high-powered fact-finding mission by the DHQ to the state.
Leader of the DHQ team, Major-General Obinali Ariahu had informed Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam that the team was in the state to assess the deployment of the JTF troops as well as their requirements to carry out their task in forestalling any breach of security in the state.
He conveyed the sympathy and condolences of the Chief of Defence Staff to the Government and people of Yobe State on the loss of lives occasioned by the terrorist attacks on the school and other locations.
He informed the governor that the team had visited the scene of the incident at Mamudo and the location of various troops in the state. He said the outcome of its fact-finding mission, especially as it concerns the attack on the school would be presented for due analysis and action of the DHQ with a view to enhancing the capacity of the forces to prevent or respond to similar occurrences in the future.
Continuing, the team leader expressed the appreciation of the military authorities for the understanding and support of the state to the JTF. He assured the people of the state that the forces would remain committed to discharging their duties with due efficiency.
The team had earlier interacted with community leaders, local government officials, education authorities and teachers in Mamudo and environs to obtain necessary information. It also interviewed commanders and troops in the area.
The DHQ fact-finding team has since returned to Abuja to brief the Chief of Defence Staff. Receiving the team in his office in Damaturu, Governor Geidam commended the Federal Government and the Defence Headquarters for their interest in the security of the state by promptly sending a high-powered team to the state after weekend’s terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Mamudo.
The governor noted that the gesture was the first of its kind in response to a disaster in the state. He also declared that the Joint Task Force deployed in the state was doing its best in addressing the security challenges.
He described the incident in Mamudo as an unfortunate and painful disaster, observing that like many other facilities, the school is situated in a forested environment hence the action of the terrorists who exploited the situation to attack the school and the defenceless students.
He said such places would require extraordinary protection and therefore called for appropriate strategies to tackle the peculiar reality of the security challenges in such localities.
He requested the military authorities to reconsider the issue of outage of GSM telephones, as it would help in passing information to the security agencies especially in the light of the current realities of the security situation.
Governor Geidam stated that his government realises the importance of peace, as there is no alternative to peace. He then declared that the state would continue to support the activities and operations of the JTF in the state.
Meanwhile, the Defence headquarters yesterday authorised the restoration of GSM services in Adamawa State.
GSM communication services in three states: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states were suspended following the declaration of state of emergency on May 14.
“The release was sequel to positive indications in the ongoing security evaluation of the situation in the states affected by the State of Emergency,” Defence Headquarters said.
“This development is in line with the planned phased restoration of the facility in response to the reality of the situation in the states. Accordingly, the services will be subsequently restored in the other states as soon as the evaluation indicates sufficient clearance for the release.”
It also said the measure is in consideration of various appeals and the need to reassure the public that the measure is purely for security reasons, as well as the need to ease the situation in line with the Ramadan season.
