Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, has raised serious concerns over alleged sabotage within the ranks of the military, political class, and local communities, accusing some individuals of collaborating with Boko Haram terrorists.
The governor made the revelations during an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central, where he vowed to take decisive action against those frustrating the fight against insurgency in the state.
“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian Armed Forces, among politicians, and even in local communities,” Zulum said. “What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and deal with them ruthlessly.”
Governor Zulum stressed the need to move away from what he described as “contractocracy” and called for genuine efforts to end insecurity, insisting that the crisis could be ended within six months if properly handled.
He noted that the fight against insurgency must go beyond military operations, urging authorities to also invest in non-kinetic solutions such as economic empowerment, social development, and political inclusion.
“Insurgency cannot be defeated by kinetic measures alone. Socio-political and economic approaches must be implemented. Among the over 300,000 that have reportedly repented, some may still return to the bush,” he warned.
The governor also expressed concern about the lack of adequate military equipment, stating that Boko Haram insurgents currently possess superior technology compared to the Nigerian armed forces.
“The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to effectively tackle the insurgency,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Zulum commended the Nigerian military for its cooperation with the state in implementing non-kinetic strategies aimed at restoring peace.
“I must commend the armed forces for their support to our non-kinetic peace-building efforts,” he added.
He further urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to focus on credible intelligence and listen to professionals who can offer genuine solutions to Nigeria’s security problems.
“The President should listen to people who can tell him the truth, not those politicising insecurity,” Zulum advised. “We shall immediately provide a forest guard unit to strengthen security.”
Governor Zulum’s remarks come at a time when the North-East continues to battle remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, despite years of military operations in the region.
