Army recruitment: Zulum approves N12.8m support for 641 Borno candidates

By Madu Mohammed,, Maiduguri

Governor, Babagana Zulum of Borno state has approved N12.8m as support for 641 candidates currently at their final stage of exercises to qualify for recruitment into the Nigerian Army’s 81 regular intake for 2021.

Governor Zulum , while addressing the candidates at Maimalari barracks in Maiduguri .yesterday announced the support to the candidates.

The Governor who was received at the barracks by the theatre commander of operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa. urged all the candidates, many of whom hailed from the 27 local government areas of Borno state to be good ambassadors of the state.

“I commend your patriotism for choosing to enlist into the Army. However, as citizens of Borno, I advise that you should be good ambassadors of our State. Under no circumstances should you behave wrongly anywhere outside. Insha’ Allah, we shall provide the needed support to all of you” Zulum said.

The Governor, in addition to his release of N12.8m also approved N15,000 monthly to support each of the 641 candidates during the last stage of the recruitment exercises.

The 641 candidates, each of whom is to get N20, 000, were those who passed different stages of medical and fitness tests and soon to leave for final military fitness exercises at Falgore Game Reserve in Kano from where successful candidates will be recruited into the army.

Successful candidates from across the country are expected to proceed to the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria for other stages of their recruitment training.

IGP Alkali’s wife empowers 500 widows of slain policemen , others in Borno

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), has empowered 500 widows of policemen that were killed as a result of Boko Haram insurgency and other vulnerable wives of less privileged policemen in Borno state.

Speaking In an intereiew with journalists shortly after the empowerment exercise, which held at the Barwee Hotel, Maiduguri on Friday, the President of POWA who is also wife of the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Hajiya Hajara Usman Alkali said ” we are targeting 500 widows of policemen that were killed by insurgents in Borno state and other vulnerable women of policemen, you can see i personally distributed these items to over 200 women before you called me for the interview. We are going to give out to 500 women mostly widows”.

• We have been to Lagos, Porthacourt, and today we are here in Maiduguri. Each state we go, we empowered the widows with grinding machines, Fridges, mattresses and food items. We are going also monitor the beneficiaries, after six month, we are going send a delegation from our national secretariat in Abuja and anybody that saved money from what we are giving them today will be given more empowerment, we have a microfinance bank, we will empower them”, she further stressed.

While addressing the widows and members of the POWA earlier, Hajiya Hajara Alkali said * I am here to see you and encouraged you to support our husbands, so that they will support the IGP to succeed in discharging their duties. The new POWA is anchored on three pillars of education, health and welfare. I want you to be disciplined , because without discipline we cannot succeed.”.

She called on the wives of the policemen to wake up from slumber and support their husbands by engaging in businesses to support their families, adding that they should use their times properly by engaging in small businesses that will help their families rather than engaged in gossiping.

Earlier in her welcome address, Barrister Zara Yakubu said ” Borno state which is the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency, the insurgency has claimed the lives of 265 policemen since 2009 which made many women and children to became widows and orphans”.

While commending the wife of the 21st indigenous IGP, she said ” you are the fist wife of the IGP ever to visit Borno to show love and concern to the police family. Indeed you have demonstrated that you are truly a caring mother”.

The president of the POWA has also presented an awards of excellence to the CSP Hadiza Musa and SP Mary Stephen for distinguishing themselves.

Speaking in an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Bola Mshelia said ” I lack words to express my gratitude to her, God has sent her to torch my life and my children. Since i lost my husband to Boko Haram in 2015 I have not benefited from any assistance. So I lack words to thank her

” This gesture will in no small measure help me to take care of my 4 children. I even lost my 27 year old daughter. Since than i have not had any happy moment as today. May Allah reward her abundantly”, she burst in tears.

Governor Zulum calls for unity and prayers for restoration of complete peace, as Muslim faithfuls celebrate peacefully in Borno

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

Governor Babagana Zulum, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Sen. Abubakar Kyari,the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi, Inspector General of Police, IGP, Baba Alkali were among thousands of Muslim faithfuls that observed 2 Rakaat, Eid-El-Kabir Prayer at the Ramat Square, Maiduguri the Borno state capital

Delivering his sermon shortly after the two Rakaat Prayers, the Imam Idaini of Borno, Iman Saleh prayed for the full restoration of peace back to the state and country at large.

” I call upon you all to emulate the virtues of our father Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for their sacrifices and service to humanity. I also enjoin you to assist the needy members of the society”, the Imam added.

The governor in his Sallah message at the Government House, Maiduguri on Tuesday called on the Borno people to unite irrespective of their tribe, religion or party affiliations to move the state forward.

Governor Zulum who spoke through, the Senator representing Borno south at the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Ndume said ” we call on all Borno citizens to use this festivity to pray for the restoration of complete peace back to the state. So that our people will go back to their farms.”