Zulum accuses military, politicians of working with Boko Haram

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has made a startling accusation, alleging that some Nigerian politicians and members of the armed forces are acting as informants and collaborators for the Boko Haram insurgents wreaking havoc in the region.

Zulum made the claim while speaking on National Televisionl, vowing  to intensify intelligence efforts and deal decisively with saboteurs within the system.

“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities,” Zulum said. “What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly.”

He added that insecurity must be approached with urgency and devoid of political interference.

“Let’s remove contractocracy. In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We need not politicise insecurity,” he stated.

Repentant Insurgents and the Path to Reintegration
Addressing concerns about the ongoing reintegration of former insurgents, the governor acknowledged that not all of the surrendered Boko Haram members have fully reformed, but insisted that the programme is yielding significant results.

“I cannot completely say that 100% of those people who have surrendered are doing the right thing, but I want to assure you that over 99% are doing well and are not participating in the ongoing terrorism,” he said.

He noted that while over 500,000 fighters have surrendered, the system is not immune to relapse.

“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,” Zulum said.

Non-Kinetic Solutions Needed to Defeat Insurgency
The governor reiterated that military force alone cannot defeat terrorism, calling for a balanced approach that incorporates social, political, and economic strategies.

“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.

Zulum credited the success of these initiatives to the support of the Nigerian military, which has enabled communities to begin rebuilding.

Outgunned and Underequipped
In a pointed critique of Nigeria’s defence capabilities, Zulum said the insurgents often enjoy a technological edge over the military and lamented the lack of modern equipment for troops on the frontlines.

“The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency,” he asserted.

Despite this, he praised the military’s cooperation with state-led peace-building initiatives.

“I want to commend the Nigerian armed forces for the support that they have been rendering to our non-kinetic measures,” he added.

Tinubu Urged to Listen to Professionals
Zulum called on President Bola Tinubu to rely more heavily on professional military advice and grassroots intelligence, warning against the politicisation of security matters.

“The President needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right,” Zulum said. “We should not politicise insecurity. The President should listen to the army.”

He also revealed plans to immediately establish a forest guard unit to bolster surveillance and intelligence operations across volatile areas in the state.