Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has raised serious concerns over the presence of informants and collaborators for Boko Haram within Nigeria’s political class, armed forces, and local communities.
Speaking on News Central’s Breakfast Central on Wednesday, Governor Zulum alleged that some politicians and military personnel are aiding the insurgents, warning that his administration will respond with intensified intelligence efforts and firm action.
“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities,” Zulum said. “What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly.”
Calling for an end to what he described as “contractocracy” and political interference in security matters, the governor insisted that a focused, depoliticized approach could end the insurgency within six months.
Zulum also addressed the sensitive issue of surrendered Boko Haram fighters, acknowledging that while not all have fully reformed, the vast majority are no longer involved in terrorism. “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 stated.
He emphasized the need to combine military force with socio-economic and political solutions, what he referred to as “non-kinetic measures” to achieve lasting peace. “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.
While he admitted that some of the over 500,000 surrendered insurgents might relapse, he believes the deradicalization program is largely effective. “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 noted.
The governor criticized the lack of adequate military equipment, stating that insurgents often have a technological edge over Nigerian forces. “The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Zulum praised the Nigerian military for its support in implementing non-kinetic peace-building strategies and called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritize credible intelligence and listen to expert advice.
“The President needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right,” Zulum said. “We should not politicise insecurity. The President should listen to the army.”
He also announced plans to deploy a forest guard unit to enhance surveillance and combat insurgent activities in remote areas.
