Governor Zulum Raises Alarm as Boko Haram Reclaims Territory in North-East Nigeria

The governor of Nigeria’s Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has raised alarm over the resurgence of the jihadist group Boko Haram, warning that its fighters have launched a fresh wave of attacks and taken control of parts of the north-eastern state.

Zulum appealed for increased military support for troops battling the insurgency, expressing concern over the group's growing strength.

However, the Nigerian government has downplayed the governor’s concerns, insisting that national security has improved over the past 18 months.

Borno State has been the epicenter of a 15-year-long conflict with Boko Haram, which has displaced more than two million people and claimed over 40,000 lives.

At the peak of its insurgency in 2015, Boko Haram held large portions of territory in Borno before being pushed back by military forces. The group drew global attention in April 2014 when it kidnapped more than 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, also in Borno.

After a period of relative calm, the militants have resumed assaults on military bases, police stations, and rural villages. In January, an ambush by a Boko Haram splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap), reportedly killed at least 20 Nigerian soldiers. Another attack during the same period left 40 farmers dead.

Governor Zulum expressed deep frustration, noting that the group now attacks and abducts people in numerous communities "almost on a daily basis." During a meeting with national security officials, he warned that Borno State was “losing ground” in the fight against the jihadists.

Experts suggest that the redeployment of soldiers to north-western Nigeria to tackle banditry and kidnappings has reduced the military presence in Borno and other north-eastern areas, making them more vulnerable.

The situation has been further complicated by Niger’s withdrawal from a regional military coalition set up to combat Boko Haram.

Security analyst Hamisu Sani told the BBC: “No matter how our military weaken them, they can always regroup and will remain a threat. The solution would be to crush the fighters in their entirety – which is possible given the right support to our military.”