Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has raised serious concerns about the presence of informants and collaborators aiding Boko Haram insurgents from within Nigeria’s armed forces, political circles, and local communities.
Speaking on News Central’s Breakfast Central program on Wednesday, Governor Zulum stated, “We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities. What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly.” This revelation adds a critical dimension to Nigeria’s ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, emphasizing the urgent need for internal cleansing and enhanced intelligence operations to effectively combat terrorism in the North-East.
The governor, who has consistently advocated for a comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity, emphasized that military action alone will not end the insurgency. “Insurgency will never be ended by kinetic measures alone. We must ensure that the non-kinetic measures are also properly put in place,” he said, referring to the social, political, and economic dimensions of the crisis. He added that ongoing non-kinetic efforts have yielded positive results with the support of the Nigerian military.
Regarding the rehabilitation of former insurgents, Governor Zulum revealed that while not all have fully reformed, over 99% have abandoned terrorism and are reintegrating into society. “I cannot completely say that 100% of those people who have surrendered are doing the right thing, but I want to assure you that over 99% are doing well and are not participating in the ongoing terrorism,” he said.
The governor also lamented the lack of adequate equipment for the Nigerian Army in fighting insurgents, noting that Boko Haram militants are using advanced technology to outmatch soldiers on the ground. He recounted a recent meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, who expressed the urgent need for 32 drones to effectively combat 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?” Zulum questioned. He further called for direct government-to-government procurement of military hardware and software to ensure value for money and avoid corrupt practices in defense contracts.
On the topic of state police, Governor Zulum expressed skepticism about their effectiveness in combating insurgency, instead advocating for the deployment of forest guards as a more viable security option. “I don’t think the state police can do better than the forest guard. The forest guard shall be provided immediately,” he stated. He also urged the federal government, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari, to heed professional military advice and avoid politicizing security issues. “The president of Nigeria needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right. We should not politicize insecurity. The president needs to listen to the people that can tell him the right thing. The president should listen to the army,” Zulum concluded.
This candid disclosure by Governor Zulum underscores the complex challenges Nigeria faces in its fight against Boko Haram and calls for a united, strategic approach that combines military strength with intelligence, technology, and socio-political reforms.
