MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — The Senate and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum on Wednesday called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently respond to the recent surge of terrorist attacks in the North-East. Zulum stressed the need for the President to trust military expertise over political influence in tackling Boko Haram insurgents.
During a discussion on News Central’s Breakfast Central, Zulum highlighted that the ongoing insurgency requires a focus on enhancing military intelligence at the ground level, while avoiding political meddling. “The President needs to listen to the people who can tell him the right thing. The President should listen to the army,” Zulum said. “We should not politicise insecurity.” He raised concerns about informants and collaborators among politicians and military personnel who allegedly aid the insurgents, complicating peace restoration.
Zulum insisted that “what we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and deal with them ruthlessly.” He firmly called out the “contractocracy” and bureaucracy hampering security procurement, asserting that with the right focus, Nigeria could eradicate the insurgency in six months. He also pointed to the technological edge that Boko Haram has over the Nigerian forces.
“The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment to fight the insurgency. The insurgents have the technology,” he claimed. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the military’s support for non-kinetic strategies, which he argued are making headway. “Insurgency will never be ended by kinetic measures alone. Non-kinetic measures must also be in place,” Zulum stated, citing the need to address the socio-economic roots of the unrest.
On the critical issue of surrendered insurgents, Zulum claimed that over 99% of repentant fighters have successfully reintegrated into society. “I cannot completely say that 100% of those who surrendered are doing the right thing, but I want to assure you that over 99% are doing well,” he said. While noting some risks of relapse into militancy, he affirmed that the deradicalization and reintegration program is predominantly successful.
During the Senate session, lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution for a military base in Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State. This followed a motion by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP—Adamawa), highlighting increasing attacks in the region affecting Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.
Senator Abbas expressed that communities are living in fear, noting that attacks have displaced many and brought economic activities to a standstill. “The renewed wave of attacks has left communities in fear, and economic activities have ground to a halt,” he lamented. Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno commended military efforts in past counter-insurgency operations while warning of the current resurgence of attacks, including targeting military formations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated, “We must not allow complacency. Any time the fight abates, they will catch them unawares.” He stressed that establishing a military base in Hong would fortify the presence of the army and other security agencies in the region.
A presidential aide, who requested anonymity, chided Zulum’s claims about Boko Haram’s military capabilities, questioning why the governor is still in office if the insurgents possess superior weapons. “If Boko Haram has superior weapons, why is he still sleeping in the Government House?” the aide asked.
Various northern states expressed mixed reactions to Zulum’s statements on the insurgents’ technological capabilities. Some supported his perspective, citing reports of drone use by Boko Haram in Borno, while others urged verification and emphasized the need for stronger military support. The overall sentiment underscored a collective concern over the persistent security issues and the need for cooperative strategies to combat them effectively.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
