Alleging internal sabotage, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has revealed that some Nigerian politicians and members of the armed forces are aiding Boko Haram as informants and collaborators.
In an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central, Zulum stressed the urgency of reinforcing intelligence operations and promised tough action against anyone working against national security. “We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, politicians, and communities. We will strengthen our intelligence and deal with them ruthlessly,” he said.
He further condemned the rise of “contractocracy” and warned against politicizing insecurity, stating that with the right approach, Boko Haram’s reign of terror could be ended in just six months.
On the issue of surrendered insurgents, the governor noted that while not every individual has fully reformed, over 99 percent are now contributing positively and have turned away from terrorism. “Insurgency will never end by military force alone,” Zulum emphasized. “We must also focus on social, political, and economic strategies. Our non-kinetic measures have shown good results with military support.”
Acknowledging the risk of relapse among the more than 500,000 repentant fighters, he maintained that the deradicalization framework is largely effective.
Zulum also criticized the military’s inadequate equipment, arguing that insurgents currently possess a technological advantage. Nonetheless, he praised the armed forces for their support in peacebuilding efforts.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize ground-level intelligence and professional military input, cautioning against the politicization of national security. As part of renewed efforts, Zulum announced that forest guards would be deployed immediately to assist in maintaining security.
