Zulum to foot medical bills of 110 Boko Haram bomb victims

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has pledged to settle the hospital bills of 110 victims injured in recent Boko Haram bomb explosions across four locations in Maiduguri metropolis.

The victims sustained various degrees of fractures and severe burns during the attacks.

Zulum pledged on Thursday night during visits to patients at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.

Describing the attacks as “a sad disaster that will not occur again,” the governor assured residents that the worst days of the insurgency are over.

The governor, who was performing the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia when the attacks occurred, reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the state does not relapse into insecurity.

“By God’s grace, the state will not fall into the hands ofBoko Haram again. I sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and assure them of government support,” Zulum said.

He added that beyond protecting lives and property, the state government would take full responsibility for the treatment of all victims currently receiving care in the two hospitals, while praying for the repose of those who died.

Zulum also commended Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a visit to the victims, describing the gesture as a demonstration of committed leadership.

He further praised the service chiefs for their visit to the state and their efforts to restore peace, urging residents to remain calm as both federal and state governments intensify efforts to tackle insecurity.

Providing an update on the casualties, the Director of the UMTH Trauma Centre, Dr. Bukar Bunu, said the hospital received a total of 110 patients from the blasts.

According to him, 22 victims were brought in dead, while six others died later. He added that 82 patients were admitted, 32 have been successfully treated and discharged, while 50 remain hospitalised and are receiving further treatment.

The governor was accompanied on the visit by the APC Deputy National Chairman, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori; Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Kaka Shehu Lawan (SAN); members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bukar Talba and Hon. Abdulkadir Rahis; as well as members of the state executive council and other senior government officials.