Shettima: Boko Haram destroyed 156,453 houses in Borno

Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno, says Boko Haram insurgents have destroyed 156,453 houses in the state.

Shettima said this on Wednesday when he received a donation of building materials and food items by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The governor said the figure represented about 30 percent of the total housing stock of the state.

He said that the insurgents destroyed 5,344 classrooms in 21 primary schools, 38 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions in the state.

“Boko Haram insurgents destroyed 156,453 houses in Borno. The houses represent about 30 percent of the housing stock in the state,” Shettima said.

“They also destroyed 5,344 classrooms in 21 primary schools, destroyed 38 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions in the state.

“The insurgents also destroyed 665 municipal buildings, including local government secretariat, police stations, as well as 201 health facilities.”

While commending the federal government on its efforts in curbing the activities of the sect in the north-east, the governor said, “more hands should be on deck now more than ever before to finally bring this madness to an end.”

He said the state government had evacuated 3,682 IDPs out of the 78,000 who fled to Cameroon at the peak of insurgency.

“We want to specially show gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and pray to God Almighty to grant him a speedy recovery and good health to continue his good work,” Shettima said.

“I want to say that the Borno deputy governor came back from Banki, Bama and Pulka two days ago.

“He was at those places to evacuate about 3,682 IDPs from Banki town to Pulka; we are also making arrangements to fix the Government Secondary School Bama for it to contain nearly 78,000 IDPs that have been literary kicked out of Cameroon.”