Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has urgently requested additional military personnel to eliminate Boko Haram insurgents from their hideouts in Borno and other northeastern states.
During a meeting with the Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, and the service chiefs in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum emphasized the need to secure Nigerian borders with Niger Republic, Chad, and Cameroon to prevent infiltration by ISWAP members and the smuggling of small arms and light weapons into the country.
Zulum highlighted the critical nature of insurgency in the Northeast, given the porous borders of Borno State, which shares boundaries with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
He expressed concerns about potential safe havens for insurgents and the increased risk of arms proliferation in the Sahelian region.
The governor specifically called for intensified efforts in clearing the shores of Lake Chad, the Sambisa game reserve, and the Mandara hills.
Governor Zulum appealed to the military authorities to deploy troops to insurgent enclaves where armed groups are unwilling to lay down their weapons.
He emphasized the importance of sustained military operations to achieve the complete degradation of the insurgency.
Additionally, Governor Zulum noted the agricultural potential of the Lake Chad shores, highlighting its significance in providing food for the entire nation.
He urged the military to consider the broader implications of addressing insecurity in Borno State, emphasizing the connection between security and nationwide food production.
The governor also touched on the vast land in Borno State suitable for wheat cultivation, suggesting that addressing insecurity in the region would positively impact food production across the country.
Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, leading a high-level delegation assigned by President Bola Tinubu, assured that efforts were underway to address the challenges in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
He expressed optimism that, in the near future, normalcy would be restored in the Northeast, bringing an end to the prevailing situation of insecurity.
He said “It’s our resolve that in no distant future, we will insha Allah see the end of this situation of insecurity, and life will come to normal in the Northeast,”.
