Zulum Accuses Politicians and Soldiers of Aiding Boko Haram, Vows Ruthless Action Against Insurgency Collaborators

Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has accused certain Nigerian politicians, military personnel, and community members of collaborating with Boko Haram insurgents, stating that their actions have continued to undermine the fight against terrorism in the region.

Zulum made these allegations on Wednesday, declaring that his administration will intensify intelligence gathering and deal decisively with anyone found aiding insurgents. He asserted that the presence of informants within the Nigerian armed forces, political class, and local communities is a critical issue that must be tackled urgently.

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

Speaking further on the issue of surrendered Boko Haram fighters, the governor explained that while not all have fully reformed, the vast majority are contributing positively to the peace process. “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.

Zulum emphasized the importance of deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in the fight against insurgency. According to him, military operations alone will not yield lasting peace, and a more holistic approach addressing social, economic, and political grievances is necessary.

“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. “Our ongoing non-kinetic measures have yielded positive results with the support of the Nigerian military.”

He acknowledged the risk that some of the over 500,000 repentant insurgents might relapse, but he remains confident in the current reintegration system. “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 noted.

Zulum also criticized the poor state of military equipment, warning that Boko Haram insurgents possess superior technology and combat tools compared to the Nigerian armed forces. “The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency,” he said.

Despite these challenges, the governor commended the military’s support in peace-building efforts, particularly their cooperation with non-kinetic strategies.

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

He called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritize credible intelligence and listen to professional military advice rather than politicizing national security issues. “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,” he advised.