by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Communities in Sokoto State have continued to express worry over the current appearing of Bachaka Village (in Sabon Birni local government area) in Google Map – thereby purporting it to be part of the territory of Niger Republic.
Chairman Sokoto State Boundary Committee-cum Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alh Idris Mohammed Gobir, made this known, while stating that, the issue needs urgent attention by the authorities “to avoid what happened to Bakassi Peninsula.”
He lamented over the problem and called on the National Boundary Commission to address the lingering issue, while speaking at a one-day workshop for the Creation of Nigeria’s Platform for Local Border Authorities along Nigeria-Niger International Boundary held in Sokoto recently.
He noted that, “This became necessary so as to address the problem once and for all,” adding that “the village has a number of social amenities provided by the State Government, which include school, medical facility and water, among others.”
He stressed that, the village has the presence of the Nigeria Police Force and Immigration personnel posted there to ensure law and order.
Speaking earlier, the Director-General, National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, said the country has a land border stretching to 4,500 km by land and 850 km by maritime.
He said securing these borders by government is a herculean task; hence the need for the support and cooperation of Border Communities to ensure security and economic development.
The workshop was attended by the Deputy Governors of Kebbi, Katsina and Jigawa States, while Zamfara, Borno and Yobe were equally represented at the event.