Boko Haram: How Gov Buni secures the re-opening of Giedam market 10 months after closure

Gov. Buni & Deputy Idi Barde at Giedam TownHall meeting yesterday.

There was wide jubilation in Giedam town as Gov. Mai Mala Buni announced the reopening of the local Market which was closed in the last ten months due to Boko crisis.

ImpactOnlineNigeria  reports that, the market was closed down by the military after Boko Haram attacked Giedam town and set the market ablaze in January, 23^rd 2019.

The military have for longe refused the re-opening of the market over  allegations  that Boko Haram elements were trading at  Giedam market in fish and cows to fund their activities,

But Gov. Buni at a town hall meeting asked the residents to feel free and begin to carry out their trading activities at the market as he explained that he has already secured the green light from the President and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Inspector Generaal of Police Mohammed Adamu and other top echelon in the security circle to declared the market open.

He explained that his delay to visit Giedam was deliberate as he never wanted to come and sympathised with the people and make empty promises instead of a solid action and go back.

“I did not want to rush and come to Giedam and start making promises to reopen the market and go back. I preferred that when I come here, I will give the go ahead for your market to be re-opened. This is exactly what we have done here today.

“Everyone here is aware of the reason why this market was closed. I have spoken to the President about this market, I have spoken with the Chief of Army Staff about this market, I have also spoken with the Director State Security Services. The report concerning Geidam is on the table of all the people that are concern with issues of security”, the Gov. said.

The governor also explained that Giedam market has an important   historical heritage and its importance to the livelihood of the people cannot be wished away.

“This market has a historical record that surpasses Nigeria, across Africa and the world. There is nobody in Nigeria that does not know or herd of Giedam market. Most of the big people in Nigeria has a link with this market. The life of the people of Giedam depends on this market. We cannot allow its prolonged closure because it will create another problem for the people,” Gov. Buni said.

Gov. Buni equally told the people that he has taken responsibility and made a promise to the president and the security chiefs on behalf of them to secure the re-opening of the market and therefore called on the people not to let him down by allowing criminal elements to infiltrate their community.

“I have pledged on your behalf that security is and will remain everybody’s business. Everyone in Gaidam town and environs must brought his hands on deck and contribute to security by cooperating with the security agents and by promptly reporting any suspicious persons or activity to the security agents. I wish to call on you not to disappoint me by allowing criminal elements to join you in your community and cause trouble. You must report them to security agent.

Geidam residents in joyous mood after ban on market was lifted.

“I have made the president and the security Chiefs to understand that even when Boko Haram was gaining strength and capturing territories, Giedam town was not captured and therefore took the responsibility that the town is free from Boko Haram elements”, he said.

Another cheering news that greeted the people of Geidam was Gov. Buni’s pronouncement that the curfew imposed on the town be reduced from 6.00pm to 10.00pm and it was greeted with a resounding applause.

The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi represented the Chief Of Army Staff.

The governor had earlier met with the emir of Ngazargamu Alhaji Mai Tijjani Ibn Saleh

  where he privately informed the emir that he has concluded all arrangements for the re-opening of the market before making his pronouncement at the Town hall meeting.

The Governor ordered for the immediate recruitment of 150 additional vigilantes by Gaidam Local Government Council to assist in patrol and surveillance of the town for quick response and action.

“It's not just the chairman of the local government or the vigilantes. All of you in the town would have to do your part”, he said.

On his part, the Emir of Ngazargamo Alhaji Mai Tijjani Ibn Saleh has said, when the governor visited him in his palace earlier, that insecurity and the closure of the market were the two major challenges that had plunged the area into serious economic difficulty. More than 80 percent of the people here are youth who have no jobs other than depending on the market. Its closure has rendered them idle”, he said.

Community leaders who spoke at the townhall meeting commended Governor Buni for his effort in ensuring the re-opening of the market. They also pleaded with him to lobby the Federal Government to rebuild the Gaidam-Maine Sorua road, which links Gaidam town with Maine Sorua in Niger Republic to boost economic activities between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

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