The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has approved N50 million for the digging of trenches and building of sand hills around the University of Maiduguri as a means of averting further attacks by Boko Haram, an official said.
Spokesperson of the governor, Isa Gusau, in a statement notes that the trench will go round the 27km radius of the university’s landmass.
According to Gasau, “Governor Shettima announced that he was releasing the fifty million naira not only to fund the digging exercise but also to support payment of allowances to special guards drawn from local vigilantes who are to work with the military in policing porous areas.
“The trenches are being designed to make it impossible for insurgents to drive into the university and also create difficulty for insurgents to cross on foot while the military will take advantage of being at the top to neutralize insurgents.
“Even though the University is a Federal institution, it was also part of Borno Government’s responsibility to intervene in securing lives and preventing the desire of insurgents to force the close down of the school,” the statement pointed out.
University of Maiduguri has since January this year becomes a major target of Boko Haram suicide bombers.
More than five persons including a renowned professor of veterinary medicine, were killed in the attacks.
Recently, Union Bodies in the school have called on the Federal Government to build the perimeter fence at the varsity and approve the N2.8 billion requested by the University authority to procure modern security equipment to stop Boko Haram from executing “greater attacks” on the campus.
