Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has raised an alarm about the resurgence of Boko Haram insurgents in the Tumbus areas of Lake Chad and the Mandara Hills within the Sambisa Forest. He described the situation as a significant setback in military efforts against terrorism in the region.
Governor Zulum voiced concerns about the terrorists regrouping in these areas, noting that while military operations have been conducted, they often lack continuity, allowing Boko Haram and ISWAP members to reclaim territory.
He highlighted that the Tumbus region, particularly, remains a breeding ground for insurgents due to insufficient military presence.
“We do military exercises/operations, and after some time, we disengage. The Boko Haram and ISWAP members will again come and take over those areas that were hitherto regained,” Zulum explained.
“There was never a time since the insurgency started that operations were conducted on the shores of the Tumbus in the Lake Chad. And, it has been a breeding ground for the insurgents.”
The Governor emphasized the need for continuous operations and additional military resources to effectively combat the insurgency. He specifically requested increased manpower, military equipment, and air support, including drones and attack helicopters, to bolster security efforts in the state.
Zulum also pointed to the porous borders to the Sahel as a critical vulnerability. “If the Sahel is not secured, Nigeria will never be secured. So, we need to fortify the security situation in the Sahel with a view to ending the crisis in the entire nation,” he said.
Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, assured that the Federal Government would provide more support to address the security challenges in Borno and the North-East. “We know that Borno State has enjoyed relative peace for some time now due to your determination, and people have returned to their towns and villages to rebuild their lives,” he said.
Both leaders expressed optimism that with enhanced efforts, the security situation in the state would improve.
