Senate, Gov Zulum Urge Prompt Response From President Tinubu Amid Terror Threats

The Senate and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum on Wednesday called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent and decisive action against the resurgence of terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s North-East.

Governor Zulum, speaking on News Central’s Breakfast Central, advised the President to depend more on professional military judgment rather than political voices in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

“The president needs to listen to the people who can tell him the right thing. The president should listen to the army,” Zulum declared. “We should not politicise insecurity.”

Zulum alleged that some politicians, military personnel, and even members of the local communities were acting as informants and collaborators with insurgents, thereby obstructing peace efforts.

“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, politicians, and communities,” he revealed.

“What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and deal with them ruthlessly.”

He strongly criticised what he termed a “contractocracy” in security planning, arguing that the war could be won in six months with proper focus and action.

“The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment to fight the insurgency. The insurgents have the technology,” Zulum claimed.

Despite this, he commended the armed forces for supporting non-kinetic approaches that aim to resolve the crisis through social, political, and economic measures.

“Insurgency will never be ended by kinetic measures alone. We must ensure that the non-kinetic measures are also properly put in place,” he said.

On the controversial deradicalisation programme, Zulum insisted that the repentant insurgents were mostly committed to reintegration.

“I cannot completely say that 100% of those who surrendered are doing the right thing, but I want to assure you that over 99% are doing well and are not participating in ongoing terrorism,” he said.

He added, “The forest guard shall be provided immediately.”

Senate Resolution: Military Base in Adamawa

The Senate, during plenary on Wednesday, passed a resolution urging the establishment of a military base in Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State, in response to the growing wave of Boko Haram attacks.

The motion titled ‘Resurgence of Boko Haram Activities in Hong and Gombi Local Government Areas, Adamawa and Other North-East States’ was presented by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP–Adamawa) and co-sponsored by all North-East senators.

“The renewed wave of attacks has left communities in fear, and economic activities have ground to a halt. People can no longer go to their farms or conduct their businesses,” Abbas said.

Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno recounted how large areas of Borno and Yobe were once under insurgent control.

“But through strong political will and military resolve, we were able to regain those territories. Unfortunately, we’re now witnessing a resurgence, with recent attacks even targeting military formations and looting equipment,” Monguno warned.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio added: “Any time the fight abates and they think that the military has relaxed, they will catch them unawares with sporadic attacks. Our borders remain porous, and many of the attackers are not even Nigerians. They infiltrate our territory with ease and launch deadly assaults. We must not allow complacency.

“While commending the brilliant performance of the law enforcement agents, we call for the establishment of a military base in the Hong Local Government Area for reinforcement of the existing personnel of the Nigerian Army and other sister security operatives.

“We direct NEMA to provide relief materials to cushion the effects of the attacks on the affected communities.”

Presidency Responds to Zulum

A presidential aide, speaking anonymously, dismissed Zulum’s claim that Boko Haram had technological superiority.

“That is not true. The president has service and intelligence chiefs. He meets with them regularly, and they brief him on their progress.

“Supposing Boko Haram has superior weapons to the Nigerian military and has an agenda of establishing a caliphate, do you think Governor Zulum will still be living in his government house?

“So, if Boko Haram’s weapons are superior, why is he still sleeping in the Government House? Why have they not overrun Maiduguri by now? Why is Boko Haram still operating from the fringes?”

A House of Representatives Committee on Defence member, also speaking anonymously, echoed this view: “Gov Zulum is wrong. His claims are mere guesses because the public will believe him because of the emotive nature of these attacks. The governor and the entire people and government of Borno State deserve our sympathy, but to say that a set of senseless killers are better armed technologically or otherwise than our gallant troops is way off the mark.

“Our military forces are doing very well. In no distant time, this insurgency or whatever you call it will be history.”

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Markus Kangye, did not respond to requests for comment.

Mixed Reactions from Northern States

Responses from northern states were divided.

Zamfara: Governor Dauda Lawal’s media aide Mustafa Kaura supported Zulum’s claim.

“The bandits have yet to launch their attacks with the use of drones.

“So, in a nutshell, Governor Zulum could be right because of the happenings in his state at the moment, where Boko Haram insurgents are using drones while the military are not.”

Kebbi: Governor Nasir Idris, through his press secretary Ahmed Idris, said, “We are calling on the Federal Government to verify his (Zulum) claim with a view to fishing out the informants among soldiers and politicians, the lives of Nigerians are far more important than any person.”

Sokoto: Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), Adviser on Security, said, “We don’t have any issues with the security agents; we are in a good relationship, and the results are there to show it. We are not ready to join any issue, ours is to provide them with support on how to tackle this menace.”

Nasarawa: Public Affairs adviser Peter Ahemba stated, “Technology is something that must be adopted because the world has become a global village, so whatever you do now as far as the society is concerned, technology is important.

“Especially when you talk about fighting crime, you must do this because the bandits and terrorists themselves are using technology in carrying out their nefarious activities. So, the government also has to adopt such technology measures in order to surpass whatever they are doing.”

On state police: “When the state police come on board, the people will now be better informed and better equipped to deal with such insurgency because the people live with them.

“They have better knowledge of the environment than other conventional police and security agencies that are not part of the community.”

Plateau: Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s adviser Yiljap Abraham said, “What is happening in Borno State is unfortunate and is not isolated.”

“A state should not be allowed to handle the situation because what the insurgents do is strike in a place and move to another place, and that is also what we are facing in Plateau.

“So, there should be a collective approach by states in dealing with the situation so that wherever the bandits run to, they will be tracked down.

“Secondly, there should be an in-house cleansing within the security apparatus. This is important because no matter the strategy or plan you adopt in dealing with the situation, it will be difficult for it to succeed if it is leaked to the bandits ahead of the operation.

“And thirdly, deliberate efforts should be made to mobilize local communities and empower them to be able to face the challenge of insecurity in their domain.”

Benue: Commissioner for Information Mathew Abo said, “We can’t verify Zulum’s claims because we don’t have access to military armoury. Only the military can confirm whether insurgents are better equipped.”

Kogi: Governor’s media aide Ismail Isah countered Zulum: “Insurgents can’t be more powerful than the government, and they also can’t boast of more knowledge of the local terrain irrespective of their ragtag capabilities.

“We are enjoying the support of the military and other security agencies along with our vigilante service and local hunters, and we are working together to defeat criminal elements in our state despite some minor and opportunistic setbacks.”