Zulum reschedules Jimtilo, Benishiekh gate closure to 6pm

Following public outcry, especially motorists and passengers over the closure of Maiduguri city entrance and exit by 4 pm at Jimtilo in the outskirt of Maiduguri metropolis, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno state has rescheduled it to 6pm.

Also, the 2 pm closure of Benishiekh town along Maiduguri-Damaturu road linking places like Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina and  Abuja recently by the military was inconvenient for passengers and it exposed motorists to high risk of being attacked or killed by Boko Haram insurgents.

Both passengers and motorists, irrespective of position or status in the society were denied the opportunity to either enter or exit Maiduguri by 4 pm instead of 6 pm as earlier scheduled.

While at Benishiekh, the military used to close the gate they constructed recently by 2 pm instead of 4 pm in the past, this created serious problem and destabilized socio economic activities of the citizenry which posed serious concern to the people.

Governor Zulum has however intervened by investigating the cause of the problems.  He gave directive Monday that the Maiduguri Jimtilo gate should henceforth be closed at 6pm as earlier agreed and arranged while Beniishiekh gate should be closed by 5 pm instead of  2 or 4pm.

The governor said citizens deserve to be protected and provided with  safety and measures to safeguard their lives and property  should be in place.

Zulum stated said when he embarked on assessment of the bush clearance along Maiduguri,_Damboa_Biu road to assess the level of ongoing clearance of bushes along the road  aimed at providing proper visibility to commuters. Before now, Boko Haram terrorists use the place as   hide-out or cover to ambush travellers on the high way.

The governor in the evening visited the Njimtilo and Auno gates where the security personnel normally lock the gates before 4.00 pm to prevent travellers coming in to Maiduguri.

The governor, while interacting with the commuters and residents in the areas, confirmed that the security personnel normally lock the gates earlier than the scheduled time.

While briefing the governor, the security personnel at the gates said they acted on order from above.

Zulum however directed that commuters should be allowed access to Maiduguri on daily basis without any hindrance. Henceforth, the gate should be closed at 6pm while Benishiekh gate should be closed at 5pm

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