Boko Haram: Damaturu-Biu highway reopens

 The Yobe State Govern­ment in collaboration with the Nigerian Army yesterday reopened the 132km Damaturu-Biu federal highway, which was blocked three years ago due to incessant attacks on travellers by Boko Haram in­surgents.

A major link between Yobe and southern part of Borno, the road was reopened at Buni Yadi, where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, noted that it was strategic to the economic well-being of Yobe State as it linked the state capital with many communi­ties.

He said the reopening of the road would boost economic activities of Yobe, Borno, Ad­amawa and Gombe State.

“This will also impact posi­tively on the current mili­tary operations in the area by boosting the achievement of the troops,” he said.

Buratai charged the Yobe State government to accelerate work on the reconstruction of the road to encourage vibrant economic activities.

Yobe State Governor, Al­haji Ibrahim Geidam, in his speech, commended the army and other security agencies for restoring peace in the state.

Geidam, represented by the Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Sirajo Wakil, assured the public that the state gov­ernment would reconstruct the road in liaison with the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps.