Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for a decisive military offensive in the Lake Chad islands—locally referred to as the Tumbus—to dismantle insurgent hideouts and bring lasting peace to the region.
Governor Zulum made the appeal on Friday during a visit by a high-level Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, to the Government House in Maiduguri.
The delegation included the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Mutawalle, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other top military officials.
Describing the Tumbus as critical sanctuaries for insurgents, Zulum urged the Nigerian military to intensify coordinated and sustained operations in the area.
“These islands serve as breeding grounds for insurgents who rely on them for sustenance and regrouping. It is imperative to launch aggressive and targeted military campaigns in the region,” Zulum emphasized.
He also warned of a growing convergence of terror elements from the North West, North Central, and North East regions in the Lake Chad basin, posing new threats to national security.
Highlighting the Sahel’s vulnerability to arms smuggling and infiltration, Zulum stressed the need for strengthened border security and enhanced surveillance systems. “If the Sahel remains unsecured, the entire country remains exposed,” he cautioned.
The governor called for the deployment of additional troops and military equipment to strategic locations, including the Timbuktu Triangle and the Mandara Mountains. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong military presence in recently liberated areas to prevent a resurgence of insurgents.
“There must be forces holding the ground. The current resurgence is a result of assumptions that the threat was over,” he said. “But they are regrouping, and I believe the Nigerian military will not allow that to continue.”
Zulum also appealed for advanced military assets such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and more personnel to bolster defenses across vulnerable regions.
While acknowledging the nationwide burden on the military, he urged for increased deployment of trained personnel and logistics support to the North East.
Governor Zulum also highlighted the impact of non-kinetic strategies in the fight against insurgency, noting that over 300,000 insurgents and their families have surrendered in the past three years.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, military leadership, and other stakeholders for their continued efforts to restore peace and support displaced communities.
In his response, Defence Minister Badaru assured that the Federal Government remains committed to addressing security challenges in the region.
“The President has directed the provision of all necessary manpower and equipment to stop the resurgence of insecurity in Borno and the North East,” Badaru said.
He praised Zulum’s leadership, particularly his efforts in resettling displaced persons and promoting agricultural and livelihood initiatives across the state.
The delegation also included senior military officers, among them both the outgoing and incoming Theatre Commanders of Operation Hadin Kai.