The Borno State Government on Monday declared December 22, a yearly public holiday to celebrate the capture of Sambisa Forest by the military.

Gov. Kashim Shettima disclosed this at the opening of the 2017 Small Arms Championship in Sambisa forest in Borno on Monday.

“The Borno Government will from this year begin to declare Dec. 22 as Sambisa Memorial Day.

“This day will be marked as Public Holiday in Borno for the purpose of celebrating the strength and the victory of our Armed Forces,” Shettima said.

He said the victims of Boko Haram terrorism will also be remembered on that day.

“The Borno government will do everything possible to ensure that the patriotism of our heroes is supremely preserved and not taken for granted,” the governor said.

He added that he was proud to have witnessed the funeral of Boko Haram insurgency.

“Based on Buhari’s announcement, the Sambisa forest became deceased or dead at about 1.35 p.m. on Dec.22, 2016.

“Three months after its demise, today marks the official funeral of the Sambisa forest. I am proud to have witnessed this funeral and I congratulate all of us for being witnesses to the triumph of good over evil,” he said.

He added that the government was planning to establish a museum called Boko Haram, in order to document all materials related to the fight against the insurgents.

“The fall of Sambisa is both symbolic and memorable and that is why as a government, we are taking steps to preserve the history behind the fall of Sambisa.

“And to spectacularly document the roles played by everyone from the Commander-In Chief, our service commanders and soldiers.

“Very soon, the state government will respectively request for partnership with the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Ministry of Information  to construct a museum that will be named Sambisa Fall and International Research Centre,” he said.