Family of slain civilian joint task force member \u2013 who died while fighting bandits in Nigeria\u2019s northwest \u2013 have appealed to the Borno State government to continue to support them.<\/p>\n
A high-ranking civilian joint task force (CJTF) member has been killed by armed bandits in Sokoto State in Nigeria\u2019s extreme northwest.<\/p>\n
Habila Joshua, the chairman of the CJTF in the Wulari Christian camp, a settlement for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, was among 300 members who were deployed to Sokoto State in February to curb escalating banditry.<\/p>\n
In January, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, the governor of Sokoto State, asked for help to stop attacks by bandits. He said the state needed about 2,000 security personnel to function as backup.<\/p>\n
Before requesting help, Aliyu Sokoto approached Babagana Umara Zulum, the Borno State governor, who gave his approval.<\/p>\n
Sokoto was being \u201cplagued by bandits\u201d, who abducted schoolchildren for ransom, attacked and killed residents, and stole and destroyed property, he said, adding that the bandits were causing \u201cmayhem\u201d. Other northwestern states \u2013including Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna \u2013 were also suffering at the hands of bandits.<\/p>\n
Three hundred security operatives \u2013 comprising 150 CJTF members, 100 hunters and 50 vigilantes \u2013 were sent to help security operatives in Sokoto.<\/p>\n
Habila\u2019s grieving family told RNI that they were devastated by his death.<\/p>\n
Marry Joshua, his sister, said her brother was married and had 11 children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are terribly sad and his wife is struggling to make ends meet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marry said she was in regular contact with her brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked often on the phone. I used to call to find out how he was doing. He also phoned me to check on the family.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe always seemed upbeat and did not talk about security business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last time we spoke he told me that their mission in Sokoto was almost complete. He said he would be home soon and he was looking forward to seeing everyone again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we were speaking, I did not know it would be the last time I would hear his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried to call him afterwards but I could not get through. I tried several times for days but each time it was the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt worried us because it was not like him not to answer. And if I did not call him, he used to phone me. After a few days of silence, we started to make enquiries and that was how we got the sad news that he had been killed by bandits about 10 days before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marry said her brother was like a father to the whole family, including his brothers and sisters. He financially supported his mother, his wife and children.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the breadwinner and he looked after all of us. In fact, Habila\u2019s death is a great loss not only for his family but also for the entire Wulari Christian IDP camp, whose residents respected and admired him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was loved by everyone. When he was alive, he always did his best to help everyone in the camp. He campaigned for humanitarian intervention from non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to try to cushion the hardships of displaced people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people in the camp looked up to him and went to him if they had problems. Everyone was shocked to hear the news of his death.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole Habila family, particularly his wife and children, are devastated. We are going through challenging times. Although the state government sent Habila\u2019s monthly stipend to his family this month, we do not know what will happen in future. We do not know if the state government will continue to pay. We fear that they will stop sending the stipend now that he has died. We don\u2019t know how the family will survive financially.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, Habila\u2019s wife is farming to get food for her children. They are struggling to live. I do not know what will become of them. I am appealing to the Borno State government to continue to support Habila\u2019s family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joel Omba, Habila\u2019s mother, said her son was kind and generous.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a dedicated member of the civilian joint task force and he was committed to serving and protecting the lives and property of not only the citizens of Borno State but also Nigeria as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did not flinch when he was called upon to go to Sokoto four months ago. He was willing to fight against evil. He was so strong. We did not think he would die in action. But he did not make it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was devastating to hear the news of his death especially as he left a widow and 11 children.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we have to count our blessings. We are lucky because Habila\u2019s body was found and brought home by CJTF members and other security operatives. We were able to give him a proper burial 13 days after he died in Sokoto State.<\/p>\n
Joel Omba said the whole family, including Habila\u2019s wife and 11 children, were living in the Wulari Christian IDP camp in Maiduguri. The family moved into the camp after they fled from the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State about 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoko Haram [the Jam\u0101\u2019at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da\u2019way Wa\u2019l-Jih\u0101d \u2013 JAS] displaced us. We were forced to flee during a violent attack. We were fortunate that we made it out alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots of people from Gwoza in the camp. They also had to flee their ancestral hometowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, six of Habila\u2019s children are living with me in the camp and the remaining five are with their mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Habila gone, it is now my responsibility as a grandmother to take care of my grandchildren despite our critical living conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are praying that the Borno State government and the leadership of the CJTF will continue to support Habila\u2019s family. Otherwise, we don\u2019t know what will become of us. We are praying for mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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