Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Friday, cried out over the regrouping of Boko Haram insurgents in the Tumbus areas of Lake Chad and the Mandara Hills within the Sambisa Forest in the state.
Zulum lamented a setback in military operations in the state, saying Boko Haram terrorists were freely breeding in Tumbus water areas in the Lake Chad without much the military making concrete efforts to dislodge them.
The Governor spoke in Maiduguri when the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other top military commanders paid him a visit.
Although Zulum acknowledged the efforts of the military in combating the Boko Haram in Borno and the North-East, he said that the terrorists had been staging a return in certain areas, particularly around the Tumbus in Lake Chad and the Mandara Hills in Sambisa Forest.
He said, “What we are facing now is, we do military exercises/operations, and after some time, we disengage. The Boko Haram and ISWAP members will again come and take over those areas that were hitherto regained.
“There was never a time since the insurgency started that operations were conducted on the shores of the Tumbus in the Lake Chad. And, it has been a breeding ground for the insurgents. They can get money, livelihoods, and everything in that water.
“So, there is a need for us to see how military operations should be conducted in the waterway because all the terrorists that are operating in the Northwest, North Central, Northeast will return to the Sahel and Tumbus in the Lake Chad for their livelihoods. This is something that needs to be done.”
The Governor listed lack of military manpower covering the Timbuktu triangle, Tumbus, Mandara hills, and the porous Nigerian borders to Sahelian states as some of the challenges faced in the state.
He added, “Manpower is very essential, while I was aware of the constraints of the Nigerian army, because right now, you are everywhere in Nigeria. The Northeast, Northwest and North Central as well as southern Nigeria. I’m aware of your limitations.
“But still considering the northeastern region, the Nigerian army should look into the possibility of sending more trained manpower. There is a difference between Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits.
“ISWAP and Boko Haram are terrorists getting support internationally, and looking at our porous borders remain infiltrated through the Sahel, which is our major problem.
“If the Sahel is not secured, Nigeria will never be secured. So, there is a need for us to fortify the security situation in the Sahel with a view to ending the crisis in the entire nation.
“So, we need manpower, and in terms of military operations, the operation should be a continuous exercise,” he said.
He appealed to the defence minister to deploy more track military tanks, MRAPS, and all corresponding ammunition to Borno for a successful operation.
Zulum further stated, “We need air support. I know the kind of constraints you face accessing fighter helicopters and others, but attack helicopters are very important in these areas, and drones are also very important.
“The last attack that happened in Wulgo, carried out by ISWAP and Boko Haram, a confirmed statement said it was carried out with the support of armed drones. They hit the MNJTF with drones.
“This is the time for the Nigerian military to rise again and procure sophisticated drones and anti-drone equipment so that we get rid of these problems.
“While you are working towards kinetic measures, you should consider the non-kinetic approach, which is very important. Borno State has, within the last three years, received more than 300,000 repentant Boko Haram fighters, and not all of them are fighters. Some of them are farmers.”
Zulum expressed optimism that the security situation in the state will improve very soon, while assuring every support and collaboration to the military to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
Badaru in his response, assured that the Federal Government would provide more military support to deal with the security challenges in Borno and the NorthEast.
He said, “We are here this afternoon, Your Excellency, to engage our team here and find out what their requirements are, so as to stop the new trend of insecurity we have been seeing in Borno State and the NorthEast.
“Ours is to find out what they need in terms of men and equipment. The President has given us the directive to make sure we provide everything required to stop this ugly tide.
“We know that Borno State has enjoyed relative peace for some time now due to your determination, and people have returned to their towns and villages to rebuild their lives.”
The defence minister assured that the recent security challenges threatening the peace gained over the years would be surmounted.
