By Abdullahi Isah, Maiduguri
The Borno State Government House, Maiduguri, has turned into a den of thieves and burglars who specialise in breaking into vehicles of VIPs and other visitors to the state’s seat of power.
This situation came to light last Tuesday when the Governor of the State , Alhaji Kashim Shettima embarked on a campaign tour to Central Borno, where he visited Mafa, Dikwa and Ngala (Gamboru) LGAs. On return from the trip, some journalists who were on the governor’s entourage found their vehicles broken into and burgled and their personal belongings including their working tools such a laptops, phone chargers, power banks, car batteries, musical sets and others carted away.
Our Correspondent gathered that the security lapses in the Government House have been a source of great concern to many workers and visitors as the issue of burglary in the Government House has been on the increase. .
Some politicians also reported that their personal belonging had severally been stolen
Efforts made by those affected to meet with the relevant Government officials to address the matter with all seriousness were of no avail as instead of pacifying the victims of the theft they were rudely told that even in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, there are cases of burglary and stealing.
It is on record that usually, when Governors are going on official trips outside the state capital (Maiduguri city) or out of the state, most of those on his entourage usually park their private vehicles at the Government House for security reasons till they return from such trips and are usually assured of the safety of their cars and other valuables, no matter the number of days the governor spends outside.
That is no longer the case at the Borno State Government House as the safety of vehicles parked in the parking lots in the premises and valuables within them can no longer be guaranteed.
A staff of the government House, who does not want his name in print, said the recent happenings are not unconnected with the campaign period when all manner of politicians have access to the Government House.
Another staff said it could be a function of the level of poverty and hunger in the land which has made some people so desperate that they could steal from the lion’s mouth
