Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has raised fresh concerns over the persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East, alleging that some politicians and members of the military have been secretly collaborating with Boko Haram insurgents.
The governor made the disclosure during an interview on national television on Wednesday, where he described the issue of internal sabotage as a major obstacle in the fight against terrorism.
Governor Zulum stated plainly, “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.”
While expressing confidence that the insurgency can be brought under control in as little as six months, Zulum stressed that success would depend on a holistic approach that integrates military operations with social, political, and economic strategies.
He added, “Let’s remove ‘contractocracy.’ In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We need not politicise insecurity.”
The governor also addressed concerns surrounding the reintegration of former insurgents into society. According to him, while it is unrealistic to expect complete success, the majority of those who have surrendered are no longer involved in terrorist activities.
“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.
Governor Zulum maintained that military action alone would be insufficient to achieve lasting peace in the region. He called for a broader strategy that addresses the underlying social and economic factors driving 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 emphasized.
Explaining further, he noted, “What I mean by non-kinetic measures is the social, political, and economic dimensions of the crisis. Our ongoing non-kinetic measures have yielded positive results with the support of the Nigerian military.”
On the risk of recidivism among former fighters, the governor acknowledged that while a handful might relapse, the larger number remains committed to peace.
“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 remarked.
