INSECURITY: Gov. Zulum enrols 5,361 children of killed, missing residents in Borno

Governor Babagana Zulum – led Borno state government has enrolled no fewer than 5,361 school children between the ages of seven and 13 years without parents in Monguno.

Monguno, is one of the towns worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

The governor, who has been undertaking a series of humanitarian and developmental activities in northern Borno since last Sunday, personally supervised the enrolment exercise on Wednesday.

The children were registered during the two-day exercise.

They are part of over 50,000 children either orphaned by Boko Haram or whose parents and relations have been missing as a result of attacks on several communities by the insurgents since 2009.

Each of them will be given uniforms and writing materials, as well as free meals in their respective schools.

The beneficiaries were registered in the presence of their guardians who gave their biographic details, including places of displacement and indigenous local governments.

Meanwhile, the enrollment exercise was for orphans and children without parents, however, other parents trooped out to demand the enrolment of their children.

Governor Zulum, who promised to look into their request, also appealed to guardians of all the beneficiaries to ensure their wards attend school regularly.

He revealed the plan of the state government to engage Islamiyya teachers to teach guardians and other adults willing to learn.

While in Monguno, the governor also approved scholarships from primary to tertiary education for children of members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, and vigilantes fighting Boko Haram insurgents.

He supported volunteers with cash of N5,000 each and released patrol vehicles and other working tools to ease their work.

Governor Zulum further assured them that with their sacrifices, the state government would create opportunities for their children to obtain western education in order to look forward to a promising future.