Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has alleged that some Nigerian politicians and military personnel are secretly working with Boko Haram insurgents, warning that the state will intensify intelligence efforts to expose and punish those involved.
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Speaking during a live appearance on Breakfast Central, a News Central programme aired on Wednesday, Zulum declared, “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.”
He criticized what he termed “contractocracy” and the politicization of national security, arguing that such practices hinder efforts to restore peace. According to him, if political interference is curtailed and strategies are well-coordinated, the insurgency could be ended within six months.
Zulum also spoke on the reintegration of former Boko Haram members who have surrendered, asserting that more than 99 percent of them have embraced peace and are contributing meaningfully to their communities.
While calling for a balanced approach that includes military, economic, and social strategies, the governor stressed that relying solely on military force would not be sufficient to end the insurgency. He said combining kinetic efforts with developmental programmes remains the key to lasting peace.
The governor also raised concerns about inadequate military equipment, stating that insurgents still enjoy a technological edge. Nonetheless, he commended the Nigerian military for their ongoing efforts and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to focus on grassroots intelligence and depoliticized security strategies.
