Borno State Governor Accuses Politicians, Military Personnel of Aiding Boko Haram

Borno State, Nigeria- May 21, 2025

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has claimed that certain Nigerian politicians and armed forces members are serving as informants and collaborators for Boko Haram insurgents.  

Zulum disclosed this during an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central on Wednesday, vowing to enhance the state’s intelligence operations and deal decisively with saboteurs.  

“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, among politicians, and within local communities. Our response will be to strengthen intelligence and handle them without mercy,” he declared.  

“We must eliminate ‘contractocracy.’ Within six months, we can stop this crisis—but we cannot afford to politicize security issues,” Zulum added.  

While acknowledging that not all surrendered militants have fully reformed, the governor emphasized that the vast majority are reintegrating positively.  

“I cannot claim that 100% of those who surrendered are now law-abiding, but over 99% are doing well and are no longer engaged in terrorism,” he stated.  

Zulum reiterated the importance of combining military and non-military strategies in counterinsurgency efforts, asserting that force alone cannot resolve the conflict.  

“Insurgency cannot be defeated solely through military means. We must implement non-kinetic measures—addressing the social, political, and economic roots of the crisis. Our current approach, with military support, has shown success,” he explained.  

Zulum criticized the military’s lack of adequate equipment, warning that insurgents often hold a technological edge.  

“The army lacks the necessary resources to combat the insurgency effectively,” he said.  

Despite this, he praised the military’s role in supporting peace initiatives, urging President Bola Tinubu to prioritize actionable intelligence and expert military counsel.  

“The President must heed those who understand the realities on the ground. Security should not be politicized—he must listen to the military,”Zulum stressed.  

He also announced plans to deploy forest guards and expressed confidence in the rehabilitation program, though admitting that a small fraction of repentant fighters may relapse.  

“Out of over 500,000 who have surrendered, a handful may return to violence—but the system is largely effective,” he concluded.  

Hicia News