Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has said insurgents are using technology to fight soldiers in the North.
In a recent interview on News Central TV, the governor opened up about the challenges the Nigerian military faces in tackling insurgency, particularly in the northeastern region of the country.
He pointed out that while insurgents are becoming more tech-savvy, the Nigerian Army continues to operate with outdated or insufficient equipment.
Zulum explained that the increasing use of technology by insurgents—such as surveillance tools and communication systems—has created a disadvantage for soldiers who lack modern tools to respond effectively.
“The Army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgents and I want to also inform you that, right now, the insurgents are using technology to fight the soldiers on ground,” Zulum said.
The governor revealed that he recently had a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, who noted the need for 32 drones to help end the insurgency. “Each drone is costing about $5.5 million, so why can’t we pull resources together to buy these drones and prioritize insecurity?” he questioned.
Zulum further noted that governments should work together directly—especially when purchasing military tools and equipment—to ensure value for money. He warned against relying too heavily on private contractors, saying that some may misuse the funds without delivering the necessary equipment.
“Another issue we shall look into is that of procurement of military equipment, both hardware and software. Let’s deal directly, government to government, so that we can get value for money, otherwise most of the contractors won’t buy the equipment if you give them money,” he said.
Calling for stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities, Zulum stressed the need to treat security as a non-political issue.
“If we want to do right, we can put ourselves together and this madness will end within six months. Federal and state governments must come together so that we prioritize security, we need not to politicize insecurity, the Federal Government needs to listen to us.”
