Prof Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State, declared on Friday that his state’s security situation has improved by 85%, stating that no village was under Boko Haram control.
“Honestly speaking, none of Borno State’s 27 local government areas are under the control of insurgents,” Zulum told State House media after leaving closed-door discussions with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
Borno State and its neighbouring northeastern states of Adamawa and Yobe have been hotbeds of Boko Haram terrorist activity in the previous 14 years.
The United Nations Development Programmes estimates at least 350,000 deaths from Boko Haram fighting since 2009.
The UNDP noted agricultural, water, commerce, food, and healthcare losses, stating,
The Council of Foreign Relations in its September 2023 poll, states that at least 66,768 people were killed in the conflict’s worst afflicted states, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, and Plateau.
Nonetheless, direct deaths alone do not provide a whole picture of the insurgents.
Boko Haram, which seeks to eradicate Western influence and establish a Salafi-Islamist state in Northeast Nigeria and throughout the country, has also displaced nearly three million people, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Terrorists have terrorised communities in the state’s council regions of Monguno, Banki, Jere, and Domboa.
According to Prof. Zulum:
“To be sincere and candid, the security situation in Borno State has improved by more than 85 percent. Economic activities are ongoing perfectly in Borno State.
“I just read some script a few days ago saying that insurgency is increasing in Borno State; the story is not right. The Nigerian army is giving us the desired cooperation, the police, the paramilitary as well as air force and all other components of the Nigerian military are supporting us.
“But most importantly, I want to assure you that as the chief security officer of Borno State, the state is doing well in terms of security. There’s a serious improvement in our security situation. And I commend the service chiefs for their efforts and I commend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“Now, people are partially resettled there, especially Abadam local government and then Guzamala local government.
“But by and large, in terms of the security situation in Borno state, I think the government is doing very well, the Nigerian military is also doing very well. And then nothing has happened; we keep on improving.
“I have had series of consultations with the President and he has assured the government and the people of the entire northeastern states that he will provide the necessary equipment needed to curtail the menace of insurgency not only in the North-East but in the entire country. So I think all is right.”
cc: Punch Ng
