…Vows Tough Action on Saboteurs
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has alleged that some Nigerian politicians and even members of the military are secretly aiding Boko Haram terrorists.
Speaking during a breakfast interview on News Central TV on Wednesday, the Governor did not mince words as he revealed that informants are working against the nation’s fight against insurgency from within.
“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities. What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly,” Zulum said firmly.
He stressed the need for a more practical approach to tackling insecurity, urging the government to move away from what he called “contractocracy” and instead invest in real solutions.
“Let’s remove contractocracy. In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We need not politicise insecurity,” he added.
The Governor, who has been at the forefront of efforts to stabilise the North East, also spoke about the former Boko Haram fighters who have surrendered.
While he admitted that a few may relapse, he insisted that the vast majority are now on the right path. “I cannot completely say that 100 per cent of those people who have surrendered are doing the right thing, but I want to assure you that over 99 per cent are doing well and are not participating in the ongoing terrorism,” he explained.
According to Zulum, military action alone will not end the crisis. He argued that non-violent strategies — such as tackling poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion — must also be embraced.
“Insurgency will never be ended by kinetic measures alone. We must ensure that the non-kinetic measures are also properly put in place,” he said. “What I mean by non-kinetic measures is the social, political, and economic dimensions of the crisis. Our ongoing non-kinetic measures have yielded positive results with the support of the Nigerian military.”
On concerns that some of the over 500,000 repentant insurgents may return to violence, Zulum was honest in his response. “Yes, I believe among the 500,000 or more that have repented, I cannot rule out the possibility of fewer of them going back to the bush,” he admitted.
Despite his criticism of the lack of equipment for the military, he praised their contribution to peace-building. “I want to commend the Nigerian armed forces for the support that they have been rendering to our non-kinetic measures,” Zulum said.
He also urged President Bola Tinubu to listen more to genuine voices on the ground, especially from within the military.
“The forest guard shall be provided immediately. The President of Nigeria needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right. We should not politicise insecurity. The President needs to listen to the people who can tell him the right thing. The President should listen to the army,” the Governor concluded.
Zulum’s comments add fresh urgency to Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, drawing attention to the internal cracks that continue to weaken national security efforts.
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