Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has claimed that some Nigerian politicians and members of the armed forces are serving as informants and collaborators for Boko Haram insurgents.
Speaking during an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central on Wednesday, he declared that the state would intensify intelligence operations and take firm action against those sabotaging security efforts.
He emphasized the presence of insiders across multiple sectors, stating, “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.” He also criticized the culture of “contractocracy,” insisting that insecurity can be curbed in six months if political games are set aside.
While discussing the ongoing reintegration of former insurgents, Zulum acknowledged that a few might not have fully abandoned terrorism, but expressed confidence in the majority. “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 noted.
He underlined the importance of combining both military and non-military strategies in combating insurgency. According to him, military operations alone are insufficient for long-term 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, highlighting the value of social, political, and economic interventions in addressing the root causes.
Zulum acknowledged the possibility that a small number of the over 500,000 repentant fighters might relapse but stressed that the broader approach is showing results. He also voiced concerns over the Nigerian army’s lack of equipment, saying insurgents currently have a technological edge. Despite this, he commended the armed forces for their role in facilitating peace-building efforts, particularly through non-kinetic measures.
The governor called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritize actionable intelligence and heed advice from seasoned professionals. “The forest guard shall be provided immediately. The President of Nigeria needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right,” he urged. “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.”
What you should know
Governor Zulum has accused elements within the political class and armed forces of collaborating with Boko Haram. He advocates a dual approach—military and non-military—to ending insurgency, while praising the reintegration efforts for repentant fighters and urging the President to base decisions on professional and ground-level intelligence.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
