Another tragedy has befallen Borno State with the death, this morning, of elder statesmen and former governor, Group Capt. Mustapha Amin (rtd.).

Regarded as one of the few most principled and honest Nigerians, Group Capt. Amin was the first governor of Borno State, North-East Nigeria, from March 1976 to July 1978 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.

Amin was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Nigerian Airforce when he was appointed governor by the Supreme Military Council.

He is remembered for imposing restriction on tree cutting permits and made it an offense to set fires to clear the land in an attempt to check desert encroachment.

Information reaching News Express has it that funeral prayers for the late Amin will hold this afternoon (by 1pm) at Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna.

His death came just as Borno was mourning the death yesterday of 55 persons in an exchange of gunfire between Boko Haram insurgents and Nigeria’s military Joint Task Force.

•Photo: Borno Governor Kashim Shettima is mourning again.