Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, sounded a critical warning on Friday about the regrouping of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the Tumbus areas of Lake Chad and the Mandara Hills within Sambisa Forest. Speaking in Maiduguri during a visit from Minister of Defence Badaru Abubakar, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, and senior military commanders, Zulum highlighted the growing threat posed by these insurgent groups.
Zulum expressed concern over the lack of sustained military presence, stating, “We do military exercises/operations, and after some time, we disengage. The Boko Haram and ISWAP members will again come and take over those areas that were hitherto regained.” He emphasized that the Tumbus waterways, a key breeding ground for insurgents, have never been targeted by military operations since the insurgency began, allowing terrorists to secure resources and livelihoods unchecked.
The governor pointed to international support fueling the terrorists’ activities and Nigeria’s porous borders with Sahelian states as major challenges. “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,” Zulum noted. He urged for specialized military operations in the Lake Chad waterways to disrupt the insurgents’ strongholds.
This alarm comes amid reports of escalating violence. Senator Ali Ndume recently revealed that Boko Haram killed approximately 100 soldiers and 280 civilians in Borno over six months. Additionally, security analyst Bulama Bukarti warned that Boko Haram is gaining traction on social media platforms like TikTok, potentially amplifying their influence.
Zulum’s call for action underscores the need for a robust, sustained military strategy to prevent insurgents from reclaiming territory and to address the broader regional security threats posed by porous borders and international support for terrorism.
Leave a comment