Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has responded to a news report that claimed the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, dismissed his recent concerns about the escalating security situation in the state.
Zulum had previously highlighted the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in Borno, noting that there has been limited response from security forces.
He suggested that the authorities in the region may be losing ground to the insurgents.
The governor raised the alarm during a meeting with security forces in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Tuesday.
According to reports, Boko Haram militants, along with their offshoot the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been predominantly operating in the northeast of Nigeria, resulting in the deaths and displacement of thousands of civilians.
In response, a statement from the Ministry of Information, issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister’s Special Assistant (Media), denied the claims.
It stated that the headline suggesting the Minister had dismissed the governor’s concerns was a “gross distortion” of his remarks.
“At no time did the Minister say, ‘Ignore Zulum, Boko Haram is not taking over Borno,’” the statement clarified, calling the headline sensational and a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation.
Zulum, in an interview with journalists, criticized the Minister’s understanding of the situation, calling him “naïve” about the security situation in the country.
He emphasized his administration’s commitment to addressing the resurgence of Boko Haram in the state.
“I don’t want to join issues with the Minister of Information. I believe he is naïve of what is happening in the country,” Zulum stated, adding that their discussions during the Security Council meeting had merely raised concerns about the rise of Boko Haram activity and the need for greater collaboration between the state government, military, and paramilitary forces to counter the threat.
Reaffirming his position, Zulum stated: “Our discussions during the Security Council meeting were not bad.”
“We just raised an alarm that there is resurgence of Boko Haram activities in Borno State, and there is a need for Borno state government, the military as well as paramilitary, to work together in order to avert the looming situation.”
Zulum also reiterated the collaboration between the Borno State Government and Nigeria’s military, saying: “We have been to Abuja, we met the service chief, especially the CDS, Chief of Army Staff, Naval Staff, as well as Air Staff. We received assurances from them that they will do everything possible to control the situation.”
He assured the people of Borno: “Under my watch, Boko Haram will not have the capacity to do what they did before.”
“We shall do everything possible to curtail them.”
The governor pledged that his administration would continue to provide support to the Nigerian military, strengthen local vigilante groups, and address the ongoing insecurity challenges in the state.
“What has been happening these days will not be allowed to remain unchanged,” Zulum concluded.
