Alhaji Abba Garba, the Managing Director of Chad Basin Development Authority, Maiduguri, Borno State, has lamented what he described as “large scale destruction” of the authority’s facilities following invasion by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
Garba told the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri that the entire facility
had been destroyed by the terrorists.
He said staff of the organisation had turned to refugees in Maiduguri after the September 2014 hijack of the New Marte headquarters and the Farm Centre of the organisation.
Garba said: “Most staff of the organisation, especially field workers, are taking refuge in Maiduguri with their families and even the farmers.
“Nobody dares to go back as the CBDA area is currently under military operation.
“Whenever insurgency is declared over, the authority has to start afresh.
“The insurgents took over New Marte in September 2014, leading to mass exit
of people.
“Fortunately, the military was able to recapture the area in 2015.”
Garba, however, said the insurgents re-grouped and attacked the place shortly and destroyed everything, including machines, buildings and everything on ground.
He lamented: “Our power house, the irritation equipment and facilities worth billion on Naira were destroyed.”
The CBDA boss said the authority was not in a position to contribute to Federal Government’s Food Security Programme after the attack and destruction by Boko Haram members.
Garba added: “We do not have story to tell on Food Security Programme.
“We don’t even know where to start from. As it is now, we do not know where to start from when the place is finally opened by the military.”
– NAN