Gov. Zulum Accuses Soldiers, Politicians of Colluding with Boko Haram

In a powerful and unsettling revelation, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has accused members of Nigeria’s armed forces, political elite, and local communities of colluding with Boko Haram insurgents.

Speaking during an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central on Wednesday, Governor Zulum voiced his frustration over what he described as internal sabotage threatening Nigeria’s fight against insurgency.

“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities,” Zulum stated. “What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and deal with them ruthlessly.”

The governor didn’t hold back in his criticism of what he termed a dangerous trend of “contractocracy” — the over-commercialization of military operations through contracts — which he believes has hampered real progress in the war against terrorism.

“If we remove contractocracy, we can end this madness in six months. We don’t need to politicize insecurity,” he said.

Zulum’s comments come at a time of renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno State, the epicenter of the decade-long insurgency that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions.

Just days ago, the governor raised alarm over the deteriorating security situation in Marte Local Government Area. He disclosed that out of over 300 communities in the area, only one remains under government control.

“If we cannot protect this remaining one, we risk losing the entire local government to insurgents, which would be disastrous. We must not allow that to happen,” he warned.

In a bid to confront the deepening crisis, Governor Zulum has declared a one-day statewide fast and prayer, calling on residents to seek divine intervention.

The humanitarian toll of the conflict remains staggering. According to the United Nations Development Programme, Boko Haram’s reign of terror has resulted in approximately 350,000 deaths. Human Rights Watch estimates that over 2.2 million people have been displaced in Nigeria’s Northeast, with Borno alone accounting for 1.8 million internally displaced persons as of mid-2022.

Governor Zulum’s candid remarks shine a harsh light on the internal challenges Nigeria faces in its battle against extremism, underscoring the urgent need for both strategic reforms and moral clarity in confronting the insurgency.