‘The worst is over, Borno more secure’, says Gov Zulum amid rising banditry

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has asserted that security conditions in the state have dramatically improved, declaring that “the worst is over.”

The governor made the statement on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Shuaibu Waidi, held in Maiduguri.

Zulum acknowledged that recent insurgent attacks had raised fresh concerns, but maintained that both the frequency and severity of such incidents had reduced significantly compared to the height of the insurgency.

“Yes, we have witnessed a series of attacks on our communities and the security forces, but the worst is over,” Zulum said. “The frequency and scale of attacks then were overwhelming. Today, while we grieve any single setback, we can also see that the worst is indeed behind us. The trajectory is towards peace, and we are committed to sustaining it.”

The governor urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing intelligence to security agencies, emphasising that defeating terrorism requires collective effort.

He praised the sacrifices of officers and soldiers combating insurgents across the North-East, describing them as heroes who often pay the ultimate price.

“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to reiterate that we stand with the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not take their sacrifice for granted,” he said.

Responding, the Chief of Army Staff assured the governor that the Army headquarters would continue to supply the necessary logistics to troops in the theatre.

“We appreciate your support in Borno,” Waidi said. “From the Army headquarters, we will provide all the necessary resources needed to ensure the troops achieve their mission.”

Zulum’s meeting with the COAS came less than 24 hours after he appealed to the Nigerian Armed Forces to launch a full-scale offensive on terrorist strongholds in the Tumbus Islands of Lake Chad, the Mandara Hills, and the Sambisa Forest.

He made the call during a separate meeting with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, who was in Maiduguri for an operational assessment.

Expressing frustration over persistent attacks originating from the Lake Chad basin, the governor described the Tumbus Islands and the Mandara Hills as entrenched bases for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.

He lamented that despite years of military engagement, a comprehensive joint operation involving the Navy, Air Force, and Army had never been undertaken to fully clear the difficult terrains.

“A thorough military operation that involves the Navy, Air Force and Army, purposely intended to rid off the Mandara Hills and Tumbus, has never been conducted,” Zulum said. “If we want to bring down insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria, we must address the challenges we are facing in Lake Chad. The area has provided a safe haven for the terrorists. This is our major problem now.”

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