Zulum: Some Nigerians benefitting from Borno insurgency — porous borders enabling it

• The Borno governor said that the sponsors of insurgency have no interest in seeing the crisis come to an end.
• Zulum added that there is a high level of foreign intrusion in the state, which aids the activities of insurgents.

The Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has revealed that certain individuals are benefiting from the ongoing insurgency in the state.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, Zulum disclosed that the sponsors of insurgency have no interest in seeing the crisis come to an end.

The governor further explained that these beneficiaries are not just limited to Borno state but are spread across different parts of the country, cutting across all levels of society, from civilians to military personnel.

“Among the population. I cannot say who; we still have some people who don’t want to see the end of this crisis. They are benefiting from it, not only civilians; it cuts across all strata.

“Many times informants were arrested within the community; many times military personnel were arrested for trying to provide ammunition to the insurgents,” he said.

Zulum added that there is a high level of foreign intrusion in the state, which aids the activities of insurgents.

“The porosity of our borders, the fringes of Lake Chad, the Sambisa game reserve, make safe havens for terrorists,” he said.

Zulum also said Boko Haram is still carrying out pockets of attacks in Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad, and Mandate Hills.

According to Zulum: ”We still have pockets of Boko Haram attacks, especially in the fringes of Lake Chad and Sambisa game reserve and Mandara Hills.

“Recently, there was an attack on Chadian subjects by Boko Haram and because of these reasons, the Chadian authorities have taken a strong decision to repel Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in their territories,” the governor said

“The president himself was on the battlefield and somehow they have sent them away from their territory and they are now in Nigeria, especially in Borno State.

“Last two weeks, a community was attacked and we lost some subjects; about a week [ago], insurgents attacked the headquarters of Kukawa LGA, where the Nigerian military killed about 50 of them while seizing some numbers of their machines.

“So I think you are right; it’s not yet Uhuru because there is a need to tighten our belt with the aim of defeating the remnant of insurgents.”