Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has revealed that over 300,000 repentant Boko Haram members have been reintegrated into society in the past three years.
Zulum made the disclosure while receiving Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, alongside other senior military officials in Maiduguri.
“In the last three years, Borno State has welcomed more than 300,000 individuals who surrendered — not all of them were fighters; some were farmers,” the governor explained.
He acknowledged the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces but noted that ongoing security challenges in the state require urgent support and intervention.
Governor Zulum emphasized the need to combine both military force and non-violent strategies in counterterrorism operations.
“While I’m aware of the current manpower constraints the Army faces — as you are deployed across various regions of the country — the North-East still requires more trained personnel,” he said.
He further distinguished between different insurgent groups operating in the region. “There’s a difference between Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits,” Zulum stated, warning of growing foreign support for terrorists.
“ISWAP and Boko Haram are receiving international backing. With our porous borders, infiltration through the Sahel has become a major concern,” he said, stressing that securing the Sahel is crucial for peace in Nigeria.
The governor called for an upgrade in military equipment, especially air support, to counter the increasing threat from insurgent groups.
“We need fighter helicopters and advanced drones. The recent attack in Wulgo was reportedly carried out using armed drones, targeting the Multinational Joint Task Force,” he disclosed.
Zulum urged the military to act swiftly and procure advanced drone and anti-drone technology to prevent further damage, warning that continued attacks pose a threat to the entire northeastern region of the country.
