By Ayo Kehinde
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has alleged that some politicians, military personnel, and members of local communities are acting as informants and collaborators for Boko Haram insurgents.
Speaking on Breakfast Central, a programme aired on News Central TV on Wednesday, the governor called for stronger intelligence networks and decisive action against internal saboteurs undermining the country’s security efforts.
“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian Armed Forces, within the political class, and within local communities. What we must do is strengthen intelligence gathering and deal with them ruthlessly,” Zulum stated.
He decried what he described as “contractocracy” in Nigeria’s security architecture and urged for a depoliticisation of national security issues, arguing that the insurgency could be ended swiftly if appropriate measures were taken.
“Let’s eliminate contractocracy. In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We must not politicise insecurity,” he said.l
Zulum also advocated for a multi-dimensional approach to tackling insurgency, stressing that military force alone was insufficient. According to him, non-kinetic strategies—social, political, and economic—must complement military action.
“Insurgency cannot be ended by kinetic measures alone. Non-kinetic interventions are critical. Our efforts in this regard have yielded positive results, supported by the Nigerian military,” he said, pointing to the success of community-based peace initiatives.
While commending the military for its role in stabilising the state, Zulum lamented the inadequacy of military equipment, warning that insurgents now wield superior technology on the battlefield.
“The army lacks adequate equipment. Right now, insurgents are using advanced technology against our troops. I recently met with the Chief of Army Staff, who said he needed 32 drones to defeat the insurgents. Each drone costs about $5.5 million. So, why can’t we prioritise and pool resources to buy them?
“We also need to review how we procure military equipment. Let’s go government-to-government. Most contractors won’t deliver what is needed if handed the funds,” he warned.
On the controversial rehabilitation of surrendered Boko Haram fighters, Zulum maintained that although not all have been fully reformed, the programme has largely been successful. He noted that over 500,000 insurgents had surrendered so far.
“I cannot say 100% of them are reformed, but over 99% are no longer involved in terrorism,” he said.
He further disclosed plans to deploy forest guards across Borno to enhance surveillance and protect vulnerable communities.
“I don’t believe the state police will perform better than the forest guards. We will provide the forest guard system immediately,” he announced.
Zulum also urged President Bola Tinubu to rely on grassroots intelligence and professional military advice in handling security matters.
“The President must listen to those who can tell him the hard truths. We should stop politicising insecurity and allow the military professionals to do their job,” he advised.
