Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has stated that the worst of the Boko Haram insurgency is over, despite recent surges in attacks by the terrorist group.
Gov. Zulum made the assertion on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Shuaibu Waidi, in Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum who reflected on the state’s past experiences opined that the current security landscape, though marred by recent setbacks, shows significant improvement compared to the peak of the crisis.
He called on the people of Borno State to continue giving their full cooperation and support to the military and other security agencies, emphasizing that the war against terrorism requires a collective effort.
“We have witnessed a series of attacks on our communities and 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,” Zulum said.
He added, “The frequency and scale of attacks on our communities then were overwhelming. Today, while we grieve any single setback, we can also see that the worst is indeed behind us. The trajectory is towards peace, and we are committed to sustaining it.”
Zulum commiserated with the Nigerian Army over recent tactical setbacks and praised the bravery and sacrifices of officers and soldiers, calling them heroes.
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“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I reiterate that we stand with the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not take their sacrifice for granted,” he said.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Waidi, assured the Governor of the Army’s commitment to providing necessary logistics to the troops and commended Governor Zulum for his support.
“I want to 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, adding, “We have confidence in our society here, and from Army headquarters, we will provide all necessary resources to ensure they achieve their mission.”