Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has sounded the alarm over what he described as a worrying regrouping of Boko Haram fighters in key areas of Borno State.
According to him, insurgents are becoming more active once again around the Tumbus in the Lake Chad region and the Mandara Hills within the Sambisa Forest.
Governor Zulum shared this during a visit from the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, along with other top military officers who were in Maiduguri on Friday.
While noting the ongoing efforts by the Nigerian military, Zulum expressed concern over the gaps in operations that are allowing insurgents to return to cleared areas.
“What we are facing now is, we do military exercises/operations, and after some time, we disengage. The Boko Haram and ISWAP members will again come and take over those areas that were hitherto regained,” he said.
He pointed to the Tumbus area in Lake Chad as a major problem zone where insurgents find both shelter and resources.
“There was never a time since the insurgency started that operations were conducted on the shores of the Tumbus in the Lake Chad. And, it has been a breeding ground for the insurgents,” he said.
Zulum also noted that the porous borders between Nigeria and Sahel countries continue to allow easy movement of fighters. He stressed that without securing the Sahel region, the insurgency in Nigeria would remain unresolved.
He added that the military needs more personnel, advanced equipment, and better strategies to combat the threats effectively.
“Manpower is very essential… The Nigerian army should look into the possibility of sending more trained manpower,” he said, while also calling for more military tanks, MRAPs, air support, and drones to tackle insurgents in difficult terrains.
He also warned about the increasing use of drone technology by terrorists, referencing a recent attack in Wulgo carried out using armed drones. “This is the time for the Nigerian military to rise again and procure sophisticated drones and anti-drone equipment,” he said.
Zulum appealed for a combined approach to the crisis, suggesting the need for both military actions and softer strategies. He mentioned that Borno had received over 300,000 repentant Boko Haram members in the past three years, some of whom were not fighters but civilians like farmers.
Despite the challenges, the governor expressed hope that the security situation would improve soon and assured the military of the state government’s full cooperation.
In response, Defence Minister Abubakar promised that the Federal Government would provide the necessary support. “The President has given us the directive to make sure we provide everything required to stop this ugly tide,” he said, adding that the government would act fast to prevent the situation from worsening.
