By Olayemi Esan
Some Commuters using the Maiduguri-Damaturu road have commended the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) unit of the Nigeria Police covering the road for their massive deployment for the Sallah festival. Commending the operatives, commuters said they observed hitch-free Sallah for the first time after a long while without the yearly abductions that have caused panic among them. A visit to the major transportation company owned by the State Government; Borno Express, indicated that many travellers arrived the state by road within the last three days for the celebration. Though attempts to get the RRS Commander, CSP Abioye Babalola, to speak on the preparedness of the unit was futile as he was not reachable but a source within the organisation revealed that feat was realized with the recent boost they got from the Borno state government. The anonymous operative source said the sudden improvement of the RRS in tackling the spate of abduction along the route was possible due to provision of more equipment and support to fight the insurgents by the Borno State government. He disclosed that a new operational building was also donated by Governor Babagana Zulum at one of the hot spots of recent kidnappings to enable them fight back, but pleaded that the base be well furnished to serve the purpose. “There’s no electricity yet in the newly acquired building so we don’t do administrative work there. We have to come to Maiduguri to handle such matters with our people,” the source lamented. The Borno state government established the RRS to take care of the security of masses and VIPs who need escort during the day because the road is virtually closed at night when it becomes extremely dangerous to ply even for uniformed personnel fearing that the Boko Haram insurgents could plant explosive devices. “We learnt that the Governor decided to start the outfits like the vigilantes, legion, civilian JTF and police mobile units to protect the people and prevent losses to Boko Haram on a regular basis since last year. “So, what we have now is a Response Squad to protect commuters from being sent to the early graves because of the pressing issue of personnel shortages affecting the military since they concentrate mostly on operation duties,” the official said.