The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, on Wednesday met with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Shuaibu Waidi, declaring that the worst phase of the Boko Haram insurgency has passed despite recent spikes in attacks.
The meeting, held in Maiduguri, focused on strengthening ongoing military operations and deepening collaboration between the state government and the armed forces.
Zulum, in his remarks, said although communities in the state had witnessed renewed attacks in recent weeks, the security situation remained far better than what prevailed during the peak of the insurgency.
“Yes, we have witnessed a series of attacks on our communities and the security forces, but the worst is over. We shall continue to collaborate and provide the needed intelligence to our security forces to bring this madness to an end,” the governor said.
He noted that the frequency and scale of attacks recorded in previous years were far more severe, adding that current setbacks, though painful, did not diminish the significant progress made in restoring peace across the state.
“The trajectory is towards peace, and we are committed to sustaining it,” he added.
Zulum urged residents to remain vigilant and to continue supporting the military and other security agencies through timely intelligence sharing. He stressed that defeating terrorism required a collective commitment from all stakeholders.
The governor also commiserated with the Nigerian Army over recent tactical setbacks in the theatre of operations. He praised the bravery and sacrifices of officers and soldiers, noting that many had paid the ultimate price in the fight to secure the nation.
“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to reiterate that we stand with the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not take their sacrifice for granted,” he said.
In his response, Lt.-Gen. Waidi expressed appreciation to Governor Zulum for his continuous support to the troops and the broader counter-insurgency effort.
“I want to most sincerely, on behalf of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army, extend our appreciation to His Excellency for visiting us at a time like this. We appreciate your support in Borno,” he said.
The COAS assured that the Army headquarters would continue to provide the necessary logistics and resources required for troops to effectively carry out their mission in the North-East.
The meeting was attended by the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe; the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar; Special Adviser on Security, Brig.-Gen. Abdullaho Ishaq (Rtd.); and other senior government officials.
