Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has raised fresh concerns over the regrouping of Boko Haram insurgents in the Tumbus region of Lake Chad and the Mandara hills within Sambisa forest.
Zulum voiced his concerns in Maiduguri on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other top military officials.
While commending the military for its ongoing efforts in the fight against insurgency in Borno and across the Northeast, Zulum admitted that recent developments suggest a resurgence of terrorist activity.
“What we are facing now is, we do military exercises/operations, after sometimes we disengage. The Boko Haram and ISWAP members will again come and take over those areas that were hitherto regained,” he said.
The governor drew attention to the unchecked activities of insurgents in the Tumbus waterways of Lake Chad, noting the absence of consistent military operations in those areas.
“There was never a time since the insurgency started that operations were conducted on the shores of the Tumbus in the lake Chad water. And, it has been a breeding ground for the insurgents. They can get money, livelihoods and everything in that water,” he said.
He stressed the importance of targeting the waterways, which serve as hubs for insurgents across different regions.
“So there is a need for us to see how military operations should be conducted in the waterway because all the terrorists that are operating in the northwest, North Central, northeast will return to the Sahel and Tumbus in the lake Chad for their livelihoods. This is something that needs to be done,” he added.
Zulum highlighted a lack of adequate manpower as a key challenge in securing areas such as the Timbuktu triangle, Tumbus, Mandara hills, and Nigeria’s porous borders with Sahelian nations.
“Manpower is very essential, while I was aware of the constraints of the Nigerian army, because right now you are everywhere in Nigeria. The Northeast, Northwest and North Central as well as southern Nigeria. I’m aware of your limitations,” he stated.
He differentiated between various groups operating in the region, saying, “But still considering the northeastern region, the Nigerian army should look into the possibility of sending more trained manpower.”
“There is a difference between Boko Haram ISWAP, and bandits. ISWAP and Boko Haram are terrorists getting support internationally, and looking at our porous borders remain infiltrated through the Sahel, which is our major problem.”
According to him, national security depends on securing the Sahel region.
“If the Sahel is not secured, Nigeria will never be secured. So there is a need for us to fortify the security situation in the Sahel with a view to ending the crisis in the entire nation. So we need manpower, and in terms of military operations, the operation should be a continuous exercise,” Zulum emphasized.
He called for enhanced military support, including tracked tanks and MRAPs.
“I believe these are some of the things that the MNJTF, the theater commander and military formations will request from you people,” he said.
Zulum also highlighted the need for stronger air force capacity.
“Then, in terms of the air force, we need air support. I know the kind of constraints you face accessing fighter helicopters and others, but attack helicopters are very important in these areas, and drones are also very important,” he said.
He cited a recent incident in Wulgo involving drone-assisted attacks by insurgents.
“The last attack that happened in Wulgo, carried out by ISWAP and Boko Haram, a confirmed statement said it was carried out with the support of armed drones. They hit the MNJTF with drones.”
In response, Zulum urged for new technologies to counter drone threats.
“This is the time for the Nigerian military to rise again and procure sophisticated drones and anti-drones equipment so that we get rid of these problems.”
He further advised a dual approach to combat the insurgency.
“While you are working towards kinetic measures, you should consider the non kinetic approach, which is very important. Borno State has within the last three years received more 300,000 repentant Boko Haram, and not all of them are fighters. Some of them are farmers,” he added.
Zulum expressed confidence that security in the state would improve and pledged his continued support.
“I also want to use this opportunity to commend the federal government of Nigeria, and the service chiefs for all the support they are rendering to the good people of Borno State.”
“Let me use this opportunity to commend the theatre commander as well as his GOC 7div and sector 3 for their continued support to ending the insurgency,” he concluded.
In his remarks, Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar assured that the Federal Government is committed to bolstering military operations in the region.
“This powerful team from the defence sector is here, the Chief of Defence Staff himself, the two commanders, both outgoing and incoming, and representatives of all the service chiefs,” he said.
He continued, “We are here this afternoon, Your Excellency, to engage our team here and find out what their requirements are, so as to stop the new trend of insecurity we have been seeing in Borno State and the North-east.”
The minister stated that President Tinubu has mandated them to meet all operational needs.
“The President has given us the directive to make sure we provide everything required to stop this ugly tide,” he said.
He acknowledged the relative peace previously enjoyed in the state and promised to work with the governor’s insights.
“We are here to engage you and the state on what advice and guidance you might have for the Armed Forces. We believe your suggestions and ideas will help us further strengthen our strategies and tactics on how to end the insecurity,” Badaru concluded.
