Zulum
By Amah
Kindly share:
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum, Wednesday, claimed some politicians and members of the Nigeria’s armed forces are playing the role of informants and collaborators for Boko Haram insurgents.
He said the state would strengthen its intelligence network and “ruthlessly” deal with the saboteurs where found.
“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.
“Let’s remove contractocracy. In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We need not politicise insecurity,” the governor said while featuring on the interview segments of News Central.
On the issue of the repentant insurgents, Zulum said: “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 reiterated the need for both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in tackling insurgency, noting that military approach alone won’t bring about a total end to insurgency.
Moving Companies | Search Ads
“Insurgency will never be ended by kinetic measures alone. We must ensure that the non-kinetic measures are also properly put in place.
“What I mean by non-kinetic measures is social, political, and economic dimensions of the crisis. Our ongoing non-kinetic measures have yielded positive results with the support of the Nigerian military,” he said.
Speaking further on the repentant fighters whose figure he put at over 500,000, the governor said: “Yes, I believe among the 500,000 or more that have repented, I cannot rule out the possibility of fewer of them going back to the bush.”
Zulum who said “the army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency” headlong, however, lauded “the Nigerian armed forces for the support that they have been rendering to our non-kinetic measures.”
…Plea to Tinubu
While pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for further support, he said: “The forest guard shall be provided immediately. The President of Nigeria needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right.
“We should not politicise insecurity. The President needs to listen to the people who can tell him the right thing. The President should listen to the army.”
…Senate urges intensified military action
In a related development, the Senate Wednesday urgently called for intensified military action against the fresh wave of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, which according to it, has left dozens dead, entire communities destroyed, and thousands displaced across the affected states.
The call followed a motion sponsored by Senator Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP Adamawa Central) and supported by 17 other senators from the North East.
Senator Abbas, in his lead debate on the motion, recounted recent attacks that devastated his constituency.
“In Kwampre and Zar, homes were burned and schools destroyed on February 25 , 2025. In Banga and Lar, five people were killed on April 15, and churches and homes were set ablaze. Then on April 26, eleven volunteer vigilantes from a neighboring local government were murdered while defending a corporate community.
“Just last week, the attack on Kulda community in Hong LGA on May 16 was particularly devastating. Sixteen people were killed, and 90 percent of homes and places of worship were reduced to ashes. These people now live as refugees in their own land,” the lawmaker lamented.
Contributing to the motion, Senate Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North), said: “Boko Haram is back. Just last week, five soldiers were killed in Marte LGA. Government lodges and police stations were destroyed. In Kukawa, 23 people were massacred in one community, and 40 in another—simply for allegedly pledging allegiance to a different faction of Boko Haram.”
The Senate also raised concerns over the redeployment of military resources from the Northeast to the Northwest, where operations against banditry had taken priority.
The lawmakers warned that the resulting security vacuum was enabling insurgents to regroup and launch deadly attacks.
In its resolutions, the Senate asked the government to urgently strengthen military presence in the most affected areas—particularly in Hong LGA of Adamawa—and urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate humanitarian relief to displaced residents.
A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the victims.
However, Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) cautioned that the Senate must remain within constitutional limits.
“Directing the establishment of military bases is outside our mandate,” Dickson said, “Only the President, as Commander-in-Chief, can make that call. We can recommend, but not command.”
His observation was noted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided at the session. Blueprint
