By Sam Kayode
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Wednesday, led a high level Security and economic delegation to Diffa Region of Niger Republic for strengthening of bilateral agreements.
The high-level security and economic delegation, focused on strengthening the existing collaboration between Nigerian and Nigerien forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency, particularly around the shores of Lake Chad.
Diffa is a community 17 km from Damasak town in northern Borno where thousands of Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are currently taking refuge.
On arrival, Zulum was received by the Governor of Diffa, Brigadier General Mahamaduo Bagadoma, and other senior officials of the region.
At the sidelines of the visit were closed-door meetings centered on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustenance of the recent gains that have pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds in the lake Chad region.
Zulum outlined plans to leverage the improved security situation to facilitate the return of thousands of displaced farmers to the vast and fertile agricultural lands around Dutchi town within the Lake Chad basin.
Nigeria has been fighting a fifteen year old insurgent war with criminal elements who take solace in hiding within the lake Chad region bordering key countries like Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
With an extremely porous border, Nigeria has suffered heavy casualties from this ruthless war in which boko haram started by splitting the throats of their captives especially if they are uniformed personnel to instil fear into the minds of the people of the region.
The Chief of defense Staff of Nigeria General Chris Musa has however made a serious call for the demarcation of the borders to ensure that only specific entrances will be created for anyone to come in and go out.
In such instances as was done in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the physical fence would be monitored at all times to ensure that no disguised insurgents can work in free or go out as they like as it is now.
The Nigerian border is the most porous border in the entire West African region because of its centralized location in the entire African continent.