The Nigerian Federal Government has promised to boost military assistance to Borno State as it grapples with emerging security challenges in the state.
The Defence Minister, Abubakar Badaru, made the commitment during a visit to Governor Babagana Zulum in Maiduguri on Friday.
The Minister was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other senior military figures.
Badaru stated that their high-level delegation was acting on the direct instructions of President Bola Tinubu.
The visit aimed to assess the security situation on the ground and determine what additional personnel and equipment the armed forces require.
“This strong team from the defence establishment is here – the Chief of Defence Staff himself, the outgoing and incoming theatre commanders, and top representatives from all the services,” the Minister said.
“We are here this morning, Your Excellency, to engage with our teams on the ground and find out precisely what they need to effectively tackle this new pattern of insecurity that we are seeing in Borno State and the wider North-East.”
He conveyed that President Tinubu had instructed the team to ensure that all necessary resources were provided to reverse the recent increase in attacks in the area.
“Our task is to identify their needs in terms of both personnel and equipment. The President has given us a clear directive: to ensure we provide everything required to stop this unwelcome trend,” Mr. Badaru emphasised.
Addressing Governor Zulum, the Minister acknowledged the period of relative peace Borno State had experienced due to the Governor’s determined efforts. This had allowed many residents to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.
“We recognise that Borno State has enjoyed a period of comparative peace due to your strong leadership, and this has enabled people to return to their towns and villages to rebuild their lives,” Mr Badaru noted.
He expressed concern about recent developments that threatened these gains but reassured the Governor of the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to maintaining peace in the region.
“I want to assure you, on behalf of the President, that we will nip this in the bud and restore the peace that we have enjoyed in recent years,” he stated firmly.
According to the Minister, the President would receive a daily update on the situation, and the military high command would maintain a strong focus on the North-East theatre of operations.
He also sought Governor Zulum’s advice on how to improve military operations, recognizing the Governor’s extensive experience and continued presence within the state.
“We are here to engage with you and the state government to seek your valuable advice and guidance for the Armed Forces,” Mr Badaru said. “We believe your suggestions and insights will be crucial in further strengthening our strategies and tactics to bring an end to this insecurity.”
In response, Governor Babagana Zulum thanked the delegation for their visit, expressing optimism that it would mark a significant turning point in addressing the security challenges facing the region.
“I want to most sincerely thank you for this visit, and it is our sincere hope that this visit will change the security narrative in Borno State. A lot has been said about what is currently happening in Borno State, but by the grace of Allah, we are optimistic that the security situation will improve very soon,” Governor Zulum stated.
He stressed the need for resilience and a commitment to ensuring that the progress made so far was not reversed.
“We have to be resilient enough and ensure that the successes that have been recorded so far will not diminish, insha’Allah,” he affirmed.
The Governor pledged his administration’s continued political support to the military in the ongoing fight against insurgency and commended the Federal Government for its sustained commitment to the stability of Borno State.
“I want to assure you that I will provide the necessary political aid and commitment needed to collaborate with and support the Nigerian military in their duty to end the insurgency,” he declared.
“I also want to commend the Federal Government, the Ministry of Defence, and the service chiefs for all the support they have rendered to the government and the good people of Borno State.”
Governor Zulum specifically commended the outgoing Theatre Commander and the General Officer Commanding Sector 3 for their contributions to restoring peace.
However, he raised concerns regarding the limitations in military manpower, particularly in effectively managing the state’s vast forests and porous borders, and appealed for an increased deployment of well-trained personnel to the region.
“Some of the problems we are facing in Borno State include the limited manpower to effectively manage our forests. Manpower is very essential,” Governor Zulum emphasized.
“While I am aware of the constraints faced by the Nigerian Army, given their deployment across the North-West, North-Central, North-East, and even the South, I still believe the Army should explore the possibility of sending more trained manpower to the North-East,” he added.
Governor Zulum also highlighted the distinct nature of the various armed groups operating in the region, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits, noting the international support received by the former and the strategic importance of the Sahel region.
“There is a difference between ISWAP, Boko Haram, and bandits. ISWAP and Boko Haram receive international support. When we look at our forest borders and the numerous immigrants entering through the Sahel, this presents a major problem,” he explained.
“If the Sahel region is not secured, the entire Nigeria will not be secured. Therefore, there is a critical need to fortify the security situation in the Sahel to effectively address the crisis across the country,” Governor Zulum asserted.
He further emphasized the necessity of continuous military operations to consolidate the gains achieved and ensure lasting peace in the region.
“Military operations must be a continuous exercise,” Governor Zulum concluded.
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