Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called on the Nigerian military to immediately commence a coordinated offensive operation, code-named Operation Lake Sanity, to dislodge insurgents from the shores and islands of Lake Chad.
Zulum made the call on Saturday when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Maiduguri.
The governor commended the Nigerian Army for the improvement in the security situation across the state but urged military authorities to intensify operations against insurgents threatening communities in northern Borno.
He also called for stronger military deployments to strategic locations, including Kareto, Baga and the Sabon Gari–Wajiroko axis, to protect communities, secure waterways and facilitate the reopening of the Damboa–Biu road.
According to Zulum, recent attacks on communities in northern Borno are linked to the presence of insurgents around the shores of Lake Chad, stressing that lasting peace would remain difficult without major military operations in the area.
“The recent attacks on some communities in northern Borno are a result of the presence of insurgents along the shores of Lake Chad. We cannot achieve complete peace without undertaking major military operations in that area,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the proposed operation and the coordination among the service chiefs. However, he urged the military to expedite preparations for the offensive.
“I understand that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has provided the necessary support for the operation. I urge you to hasten the process so that the insurgents threatening northern Borno can be dislodged,” Zulum stated.
He further called for the strengthening of the amphibious command in Baga to clear the waterways and secure strategic positions necessary to sustain the gains of the proposed operation.
On the Gubio–Damasak corridor, Zulum appealed for the speedy establishment of a military formation in Kareto, as well as deployments around Sabon Gari and Wajiroko in Damboa Local Government Area, to support the restoration of vehicular movement along the Damboa–Biu road.
The governor also expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for training about 1,000 forest guards, who have completed their training and been deployed across the state.
He stressed that military victories must be followed by stabilisation measures, including reconstruction, rehabilitation and the resettlement of displaced residents.
Zulum commended the Army’s support for the re-establishment of the Mairari community and ongoing preparations for military formations and community resettlement in Maiwa, Koshobe and Ala.
“Military operations must be followed by stabilisation measures, including reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement. Borno State Government will provide the support required by the Nigerian Army to fortify these locations,” he pledged.
The governor also appreciated the deployment of additional battalions across the two sectors, noting that the reinforcements had helped strengthen security and stabilise affected communities.
Despite recent attacks in some parts of the state, Zulum maintained that Borno had recorded considerable improvements in its security situation.
“Notwithstanding the recent attacks in some parts of Borno State, there has been tremendous improvement in our security situation. I commend the officers and men of Operation Hadin Kai and urge them to sustain this momentum,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, commended Zulum for his continued support to the Nigerian Army, describing the governor’s contributions as instrumental to the successes recorded against insurgency in the state.
“I must put on record that the support of the Executive Governor of Borno State has been phenomenal in the successes we have recorded here in Borno State. For that, we say a very big thank you, sir,” Shuaibu said.
The Army Chief explained that his visit to troops of Operation Hadin Kai was part of a routine assessment of military operations in the North-East.
He said the visit was also intended to encourage commanders and appreciate the resilience of personnel confronting insurgency in the region.
Shuaibu reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring normalcy and creating an enabling environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.
He also assured that the challenges presented by field commanders would receive prompt attention.
The courtesy visit was attended by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno; the member representing Marte, Monguno and Nganzai Federal Constituency, Hon. Bukar Talba; the Secretary to the Borno State Government; commissioners; special advisers; senior military officers; and heads of security agencies in the state
