The widows of the eight policemen killed in an ambush near Baga town of Borno have asked the state government to consider their plight and release all accruable benefits of their husbands.
They made the appeal on Monday when Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State paid them a condolence visit at the Command Headquarters of the Police, in Maiduguri
Effa David Jarta, who spoke on behalf of the widows, said they received the news of the unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of their breadwinners in utter shock, adding that “it is not easy.”
“It is God’s design for them, everybody will die but our prayer is considered us. Let the government see us and pay all the benefits of our husbands. This is all I have to tell you,” she said.
Mrs Joseph thanked the governor for his visit but pleaded with him to “consider us and the situation we are in.”
Governor Zulum expressed deep regret about the incident which he said was the first in 18 months since he became governor.
The governor assured the women of his commitment to support their livelihood efforts and the education of their children.
“I am standing before you here, I am not here to just see you and go back. God willing we shall not let you down, we shall support you,” he assured.
He expressed gratitude to the officers and men of the Borno State Command for their contributions to the state and for staying in the state to discharge their duties.
This comes three days after Boko Haram ambushed the convoy of the state government who were deployed to provide escort to the officials.
The convoy ran into an ambush by Boko Haram at a spot called Korochara, which is about 2km away from the base of the Multi-National Joint Task Force on the way to Baga from Monguno.