Boko Haram: Oshiomhole receives Edo returnees

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday received students of Edo State origin who were evacuated from the crisis torn Borno State. He called on them to have faith in the unity of the country. The state government had on Wednesday sent buses to Maiduguri to rescue its indigenes who are schooling at the University of Maiduguri. The university was closed by the authorities owing to the threat by the book Haram sect.
A total of 150 persons including children were rescued.
Addressing the returnees, Oshiomhole disclosed that the closure of the Maiduguri airport stopped him from sending an aircraft to rescue them. He expressed optimism that the Boko Haram crisis would soon be over adding that the authorities of the University took the right decision in closing the institution until the crisis is over.
He said, “You are welcome back home. I heard of the challenges in Maiduguri, it is very unfortunate. Nigeria is our country. You don’t need visa to travel to any part of the country. You don’t need any residence permit. You should not be refugee in the country. In no distant time, I hope we’ll find solution to our national problem so that there will be peace across the country.
“I asked you to have faith in the country, don’t allow yourself to be reduced to ethnic champions. Continue to believe that Nigeria is our country and we have a right to live in any part of it and we will live in any part of it. Nothing should scare us to say I will not live in this part again. It is a matter of time. The country belongs to you. The present crisis should not weaken your faith in the unity of Nigeria.”
Earlier, leader of the students, Mohammed Abdulazeez said they fled because of the continued insecurity in Borno State adding that they could no longer cope with the crisis.