The governor of Nigeria’s Borno state, Babagana Zulum, has sounded on April 9 a stark warning about the resurgence of jihadist group Boko Haram, saying the militants have launched fresh attacks and seized parts of the region.
Zulum urged the Federal government to provide more military support as soldiers face mounting pressure amid daily kidnappings and assaults on communities.
While the Nigerian government has dismissed concerns, insisting that national security has improved over the past 18 months, local reports and recent incidents tell a different story. In January, at least 20 soldiers were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram’s splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and another attack in the same month left 40 farmers dead. Zulum told security officials that Borno is “losing ground” in the battle against the militants, who continue to target military bases and rural areas.
Borno remains the epicentre of a 15-year insurgency that has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than two million people. Boko Haram gained international infamy in 2014 for the mass abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok. Analysts say military resources have been diverted to tackle banditry in north-western Nigeria, weakening the fight in the north-east. The situation has worsened since Niger withdrew troops from the regional anti-insurgency force, further reducing pressure on the jihadists. Security experts warn that unless the group is completely dismantled, it will remain a persistent threat.