Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has promised to champion the course of supporting wounded-in-action and families of deceased military and police officers who lost their lives in the counter insurgency operations.
Governor Zulum made the promise when he received the President of Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Lilian Ogogo Christopher Musa, on Monday at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The Defence and Police Officers Wives Association is an umbrella body uniting wives of officers of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Police — is in Maiduguri for the launch of the Thank You Troops Campaign, an initiative aimed at showcasing the sacrifices of frontline troops and offering support to the wounded in action as well as families of fallen heroes.
Governor Zulum, who declared himself a champion of the campaign, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting troops and their families.
“I promised to be a champion to this noble course by identifying with officers and men of the military. My doors are always open to you at any time to partner with you to support the wounded-in-action, widows, and orphans of deceased military personnel to give them a sense of belonging,” Zulum pledged.
The governor recalled the challenges faced by troops in displaced communities such as Baga before resettlement and reiterated plans to resettle more communities to consolidate gains recorded by the military.
“Let me commend members of DEPOWA for your perseverance, I know the difficulties that you have been facing. Many times, a military or police personnel will stay in a duty for two or three years without seeing his family. I am a strong advocate of the need to create an avenue for troops to visit their families, this is very important,” he stressed.
He appreciated the Chief of Defence Staff, other service chiefs, Theatre Commander, and troops for their gallantry, resilience and dedication to restoring stability in the Northeast and other parts of the country.
The President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Lilian Christopher Musa, lauded the governor for his support to the military and families of the fallen heroes and briefed him about the “Thank You Troops Campaign”
“I must begin by commending you, Your Excellency, for your unwavering and practical support to the Armed Forces and security agencies in the fight against insurgency — a fight that has cost so much, yet remains critical to our nation’s survival. Your programmes for widows and orphans, your scholarship schemes for children of the fallen, and your social intervention initiatives are shining examples of compassionate leadership in action,” Lilian stated.
“The “Thank You to Our Troops” campaign is our heartfelt nationwide movement to honour these sacrifices, to tell our soldiers — and indeed the Nigerian people — that their courage is seen, their service is valued, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten. We are starting here, in Borno State, because this is the heart of the fight, and Your Excellency’s leadership stands as a symbol of resilience,” She remarked.
Mrs Lillian expressed commitment of the Association to complement government’s efforts in uplifting the living standard of widows, orphans, youths, and the less privileged both within and outside our barracks communities.
