By Gloria Uwais
For Effizzie Magazine
Governor Babagana Zulum has expressed serious concern over the recent resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings across Borno State, cautioning that the state is beginning to lose its grip in the ongoing fight against terrorism. Speaking on Tuesday, April 8, during a Special Expanded Security Meeting at the Government House in Maiduguri, Zulum warned that the increasing frequency of attacks on communities—often without adequate military resistance—marks a troubling shift.
The high-level meeting was attended by senior military and security officials, including the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Major General Abubakar Haruna, sector commanders, the State Commissioner of Police, and heads of various security agencies. Traditional leaders, such as the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, and emirs from Biu, Uba, Askira, and Gwoza, were also in attendance, though the Shehu of Dikwa and the Emir of Shani were absent.
Zulum acknowledged the significant support his administration has extended to the military over the last three years, which had contributed to a period of relative calm. However, he lamented recent setbacks, including the withdrawal of military presence from areas like Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, and Izge in Gwoza. These developments, he noted, have resulted in the loss of both civilian lives and security personnel.
“As I speak to you today, the renewed wave of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings occurring almost daily without effective resistance suggests that Borno State is gradually losing ground,” the governor stated. “The recent assaults and the collapse of military formations are deeply troubling and represent a major setback for the already fragile security situation in Borno and the broader North East.”
While praising the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu and the military for their continued efforts, Zulum emphasized the urgent need for enhanced deployment of advanced military technology. He stressed that bolstering security capabilities is essential to containing the renewed insurgency, particularly in Borno’s border regions adjoining Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
In agreement with the governor’s concerns, the Shehu of Borno commended the security forces for their dedication but pointed out that several local government areas, including Guzamala, Marte, and Abadam, remain under Boko Haram control. He called on the Federal Government to urgently restore civil authority in these areas and prioritize the rehabilitation of critical federal roads such as the Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri and Maiduguri-Monguno-Kukawa corridors, which are key to improving regional security and connectivity.