Buhari okays return of military checkpoints to ‘frontline’ states

A day after ordering the dismantling of military checkpoints nationwide, President Muhammadu Buhari has relaxed the rule.

Abdulazeez Yari, governor of Zamfara state and chairman of the governors’ forum, said on Tuesday that the governors told Buhari the order was “untimely” because of the security challenges facing the states.

“But Mr. President cited some incidents that happened at the military checkpoints but where necessary, he has given the chief of army staff the permission that they can continue especially in the north, south-east and the frontline states,” he said.

The frontline states are where the counter-terrorism operations are currently taking place in the north-east.

“We discussed the issue of frontline states as regards insurgency: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The president briefed us on his meeting with the G7 countries who have agreed to support the Nigerian government to fight the insurgency to the last.

“Also, it was noted that the insurgency has done so much damage to our infrastructure – schools, hospitals, and bridges. The president said he has put a committee in place to go and assess the situation and he has also made a commitment that he will not request money from any G7 country but support to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure,” Yari said.