Ex-President Buhari Visits Borno, Jigawa, Offers Condolences After Devastating Tragedies

Ex-President Buhari Visits Borno, Jigawa, Offers Condolences After Devastating Tragedies

Former President Muhammadu Buhari visited Borno and Jigawa States on Tuesday to offer his condolences to the governments and citizens affected by recent disasters.According to PUNCH Online, both states were struck by severe calamities: Borno suffered devastating floods, while Jigawa was hit by a deadly petroleum tanker explosion. These two tragedies together claimed nearly 200 lives while Buhari was abroad…CONTIN UE READING…

Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, confirmed the visits in a statement released on Tuesday.

In Borno, Buhari expressed deep sorrow over the extensive destruction and significant loss of life caused by the worst flooding the state has seen in decades. He attributed the disaster to extreme weather patterns linked to climate change.

Reflecting on his tenure as the Military Governor of the old North-Eastern State—now split into six states—Buhari remarked, “We once prayed for rain, but now we face the paradox of excessive rainfall causing severe damage.”

He commended both state and federal authorities for their swift response to restore normalcy and assist affected communities. Although a delegation had previously been sent, Buhari felt it important to visit personally to offer his support.

Governor Umara Babagana Zulum and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al Amin El-Kanemi, expressed their gratitude for Buhari’s “historic visit.” They praised him as a leader who had always prioritized the region, noting his role in transformative projects, including the 85-megawatt power plant in Maiduguri and the establishment of key institutions like the North East Development Commission.

In Jigawa, Buhari was welcomed by Acting Governor Aminu Usman, who led him to Rasheed Shekoni University Teaching Hospital, where survivors of the tanker explosion are being treated. Buhari joined in prayers for the over 180 victims who perished in the explosion and wished a speedy recovery for those still hospitalized.

The acting governor thanked Buhari for his compassionate visit and financial support to the victims, further cementing his connection with the people of Jigawa.

Reports from September indicated that the floods in Maiduguri displaced over 414,000 people and claimed the lives of 30, while in October, it was reported that the tanker explosion in Majiya town in Jigawa had claimed 167 lives.