In fulfillment of an earlier agreement for an out-of-court
settlement, the Borno State government yesterday paid N100 million as
compensation to the family of the in-law of the late Boko Haram sect
leader, Baba Fugu.
Meanwhile, four suspected Boko Haram gunmen on
motorcycle at the weekend attacked a tea shop in Gazangi-Tashan Gandu
area of Biu, in Borno State, killing three people, and injuring five
others.
The late Fugu was an in-law of the deceased Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf.
Fugu was killed by policemen in 2009 after he made himself available at the Borno State Police Command, Maiduguri.
Presenting
the cheque to the Fugu family’s solicitor, Anayo Adibe, Governor
Kashim Shettima said: “The ceremony today at the Government House, is a
solemn one and that my heart goes to the family of the deceased Baba
Fugu and others that lost their lives in the sectarian crises that
engulfed the state.”
The governor said despite the situation the
state had found itself since the Boko Haram sect decided to take arms
against everyone, the state government will not stop appealing to them
to lay down their arms and embrace peace since violence would not
achieve anything.
He said it is only through the path of peace and
dialogue that could lead to the development of the state and the nation
at large.
The family subsequently went to court seeking
compensation from the Borno and Federal governments for alleged
extra-judicial killing.
The family’s prayer was granted by a
Maiduguri High Court which ordered the state and the Federal governments
to pay N100 million as compensation.
The state government challenged the lower court’s ruling at Federal Appeal Court, Jos to upturn the decision.
But the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mallam Zanna Gana was instructed to withdraw the suit.
Confirming
the incident, the Borno State Police Commissioner, Simeon Midenda told
The Guardian that five motorcycle-gunmen attacked a teashop by firing
several gunshots into the shop and killed one of the customers.
Midenda
further disclosed: “The report of my area commander of the Police in
Biu indicated that one person was killed, while seven other customers
who sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to the Biu General Hospital
for treatment”
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