By Duku JOEL, Maiduguri

The Nigeria Army has bowed to pressure and re-opened the 185 km Maiduguri, Damboa-Biu road, which has been closed for more than one year.

Borno Governor Babagana Zulum, at several fora, requested the re-opening of the road to ease movement of travellers within the axis.

The latest of those requests was last visit of the Minister of Defence with the Service Chiefs in Maiduguri last year.

The governor, at a point, even threatened to ply the road on his way if the military refuses to open it.

The Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who personally supervised the re-opening the road, said security has been sufficiently put on the road for the safety of travellers plying on the road.

‘’The military, hunters, police and Civilian Joint Task Force, the police and Nigeria Air Force will provide the required security and air surveillance for commuters along the road,” Buratai said.

Buratai announced that the road will soon be completely handed over to the police to take over its security as the security situation improves.

The Army Chief expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for all the support he has been rendering to the Armed Forces in all its operations, stressing the contributions of Borno State Government in providing support to hunters and the CJTF in the fight assist the insurgents is greatly appreciated.

The Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, warned members of Road Transport Workers Union not to start collecting money from travellers in the name of providing logistics to top soldiers as the Army Headquarters have taken care of such.

The road connects communities from Damboa, Chibok, Askira-Uba, Hawul, Biu, Gwoza, Kwaya Kusar, Shani and Bayo Local Government Areas of southern Borno and other communities of Adamawa state.