By Ebenezer Mabinuola
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has donated ₦100 million to support wounded soldiers and the families of personnel who died in active service. The announcement was made on Saturday, June 7, 2025, during the Eid El-Kabir luncheon at Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, held in honour of troops engaged in Operation Hadin Kai.
The funds were received by Major General Abdussalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, on behalf of the Nigerian military. The event, co-hosted by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, brought together top military leaders and government officials in a show of solidarity.
Governor Zulum stated that ₦500,000 would be given to each wounded soldier, while the remaining amount would be distributed to families of fallen heroes. He praised the troops for their sacrifice and resilience, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting security forces and rebuilding conflict-affected communities.
The gesture, timed with the Eid El-Kabir celebration, carried both material and symbolic significance, reinforcing the values of sacrifice and communal support. It also builds on Zulum’s previous interventions, including a ₦30 million donation in February 2025 to the family of the late Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ebisingha Alari.
The transparent disbursement and wide media coverage signal a broader effort to boost troop morale and foster trust between civilian leadership and the military, especially amid Nigeria’s ongoing fight against insurgency in the northeast.
