Borno State Governor, Professor Babangana Zulum, has explained his reasons for hiring a private jet to fly an injured Nigerian army officer to Abuja for treatment.
Zulum said he was shocked by the condition he met the injured army officer when he heard that the injuries were due to gunshot wounds with Boko Haram insurgents in Borno.
The governor of Borno State added that the officer’s story was pitiful, but he had to offer him support, leaving the journey for someone who had sacrificed to protect his countrymen.
Meanwhile, a report submitted by an anti-Makama group, Zagazola, corroborated Zulum’s claim, stating that the officer identified as Major Garba sustained bullet injuries against Boko Haram insurgents in Wajiro, Damboa Local Government Area. from Borno state.
The report further said Garba, who was being treated at the Maimala Cantonment Hospital, was allowed to see his private doctor in Abuja.
However, he was denied entry into a commercial airline due to his health condition.
The report added that Garba was disappointed with the response he got and had to resign to fate while waiting for the next military flight to Abuja. Just then, Governor Zulum who was on his way to Abuja entered the airport and when he saw the injured officer he stopped to greet him, heard his story and offered him help.
“During the farewell he heard about the soldier’s dilemma. They told him how airlines refused to fly him because of his condition.
“A regular commercial airline flier, the governor, moved by the soldier’s plight and refusal to fly commercial airlines, decided to intervene. His intervention was as immediate as it was extensive,” the report added.
The governor, moved by the officer’s dilemma, reportedly hired a private jet to fly the injured Garba to Abuja.
In August 2021, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, the Chief of Army Staff, launched a welfare flight at the Maiduguri air force base for soldiers and officers of Operation Hadin Kai in the North East, who are in a pass and want to go see them. families
The army chief said then that the development is part of efforts to cater for the welfare of troops who are on their way to and from the theater of operations in other parts of the country.
