Governor Babagana Zulum donated ₦150 million to the families of three military officers killed in recent Boko Haram attacks. The payments, ₦50 million each, were made during condolence visits to the families of Umar Farouq, Salihu Iliyasu, and Aliyu Saidu Paiko. A statement from the governor's spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, said Zulum first visited the family of Salihu Iliyasu in Abuja, where he presented the cheque to the late officer's wives, Na'ima and Rakiya. He expressed deep sorrow, calling Iliyasu a dedicated servant whose contributions would not be forgotten.
Zulum later travelled to Niger and Kano to present similar cheques to the families of Paiko and Farouq. The governor also extended support to families of volunteer forces, including scholarship programmes for their children. Dauda Iliya said the governor commended the slain officers for their gallantry and patriotism during counter-insurgency operations in Maiduguri. Zulum pledged to visit more families of officers killed or missing in action, underscoring his administration's commitment to military welfare.
A governor writing personal cheques of ₦50 million each is rare, but it also reveals how little institutional support exists for families of fallen soldiers. While Zulum's visits offer symbolic comfort, the burden should not rest solely on state governors. If the federal government treats soldiers as national assets, their welfare shouldn't depend on the goodwill of one man in Borno.
