Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has raised alarm over the presence of Boko Haram informants within Nigeria’s political class, military ranks, and local communities, warning that such internal sabotage is prolonging the insurgency in the North-East.
Speaking during an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central on Wednesday, Zulum said his administration would strengthen intelligence operations and “deal ruthlessly” with saboteurs undermining the fight against terrorism.
“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,” the governor stated.
Zulum criticised what he described as “contractocracy” and called for urgent, depoliticised action to end the conflict.
“In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We need not politicise insecurity,” he added.
The governor also addressed the controversial issue of repentant Boko Haram fighters, noting that while not all have fully reformed, the vast majority are now contributing to peace-building efforts.
“Over 99 per cent of those who have surrendered are not participating in ongoing terrorism,” he said, though he acknowledged that a few might relapse into militancy.
“Among the 500,000 or more that have repented, I cannot rule out the possibility of some going back to the bush,” he added.
Zulum stressed that military force alone cannot defeat insurgency, advocating for a balanced approach that includes non-kinetic strategies such as economic empowerment, political inclusion, and social rehabilitation.
“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, crediting the Nigerian military with supporting these non-combat initiatives.
Despite his praise for the armed forces’ cooperation, Zulum criticised the lack of equipment for frontline troops and warned that insurgents currently enjoy a technological advantage.
“The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency,” he said.
Zulum urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise field-level intelligence and heed the counsel of security professionals.
He also pledged to establish a state-run forest guard to enhance security in remote areas.
“The President of Nigeria needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right… The President should listen to the army,” he concluded.
