Following the burning of the Hong Local Government Secretariat by Boko Haram insurgents, the chairman and Councillors have been forced to relocate official activities to the shade of a tree within the premises.

Towards the end of 2014, Boko Haram attacked the local government, annexed it, killed several residents and set properties ablaze.

During his maiden function since the town was liberated, the Chairman of the Local Government, Ahmed Yerima, presented a budget before the legislative council.

The chairman noted that the arson and destruction by Boko Haram fighters left over 300 families’ homeless in Hong town. He said although his administration had provided relief materials to the victims, there was need for assistance from wealthy individuals and organizations.

Mr. Yerima, who presented the budget of N1.8​ b​billion, lamented the large scale destruction wrought on the local government by Boko Haram.

He said it had negatively affected the fortunes of the local government and would take it a long time to recover.

“The council is not deterred by the destruction of the secretariat as such we resolved to conduct government functions under the shade of the tree,” he said.

He expressed confidence that with the resumption of government activities, displaced people from the local government will return and very soon the town would be restored its glory and economic vibrancy.

The chairman urged state and federal governments to come to the rescue of the local government especially in the area of rebuilding infrastructure and public buildings destroyed by the insurgents. He said the local government did not have the financial muscle to embark on the rebuilding exercise.

He expressed the readiness of his administration to cooperate with security agencies to ensure that normalcy returned to the area. He said the council was working with security agencies and vigilante groups to beef up security in the area.

He noted that the attacks had made Nigerians more apprehensive and disenchanted.

Mr. Yerima also stated that Hong Local Government was the worst hit among the places attacked by the insurgents.