Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called for a military offensive in the Lake Chad islands, locally known as the Tumbus to decisively crush insurgent strongholds and end the prolonged conflict in the region.
Gov. Zulum made the appeal on Friday, while receiving a high-powered federal government delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The delegation also included the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mutawalle, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other senior military officials.
Describing the Tumbus as vital sanctuaries for insurgent groups, Gov. Zulum urged the military to launch coordinated and sustained operations to clear the area.
“These islands serve as breeding grounds for insurgents who rely on them for sustenance and regrouping. It is imperative to launch aggressive and targeted military campaigns in the region,” Gov. Zulum said.
He warned that terror elements from the North West, North Central, and North East may be converging in the Lake Chad area, posing renewed threats to national security.
The governor also emphasized the urgent need to enhance surveillance and tighten border security, particularly across the Sahel region, citing its vulnerability to arms smuggling and infiltration by armed groups.
“If the Sahel remains unsecured, the entire country remains exposed. We must prioritize the fortification of this region,” he said.
Gov. Zulum advocated for increased deployment of troops and equipment to strategic areas like the Timbuktu Triangle and the Mandara Mountains, highlighting the importance of maintaining a military presence in liberated zones to prevent insurgent resurgence.
“There must be forces holding the ground. The current resurgence is a result of assumptions that the threat was over. But they are regrouping, and I believe the Nigerian military will not allow that to continue,” he added.
He also called for the provision of advanced military hardware, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and additional personnel to bolster surveillance and defense across vulnerable areas.
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Acknowledging the burden on the military across various theatres nationwide, Gov. Zulum appealed for more trained personnel and logistics to be dispatched to the North East.
The governor noted the success of non-kinetic measures in the fight against insurgency, revealing that over 300,000 insurgents and their families have surrendered in the past three years.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the defence chiefs, and other stakeholders for their continued support in restoring peace and aiding the resettlement of displaced communities.
Defence Minister Badaru assured of the federal government’s readiness to equip and support the military in combating the renewed threat in the North East.
“The president has directed the provision of all necessary manpower and equipment to stop the resurgence of insecurity in Borno State and the North East,” the minister said.
He also commended Gov. Zulum’s leadership in resettling displaced persons and promoting agricultural and livelihood programs across the state.
The defence delegation included key military leaders, including both the outgoing and incoming theatre commanders of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, along with senior officers and technical staff.
