Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, says no local government area in the state will be allowed to fall into the hands of insurgents.
Zulum spoke on Monday while addressing journalists after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
The governor said the meeting was to brief the president on the security challenges in Borno and other parts of northern Nigeria.
“Things are not getting very well in northern Nigeria, particularly in the north-east,” he said.
Zulum said insurgents have recently stepped up attacks in the state, targeting military formations and civilian populations.
He said the federal government had been responsive to the state’s plea for intervention.
“We made a plea to the federal government, and I believe within the last couple of days, the Nigerian armed forces have taken certain decisions that will curtail the imminence of the insurgency,” he said.
Zulum said one of the major responses under consideration is the creation of forest guards to provide ground-level intelligence and defence.
“That will be a game-changer,” he said.
He noted that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP are deploying advanced weaponry in their operations.
The governor said his administration would continue to mobilise local volunteers to support the military and protect communities.
“On my own part, as the governor of Borno state, I will not relent in my effort in strengthening the resilience of our community,” he said.
He vowed that no part of the state would be surrendered to insurgents.
“It will never happen now. I believe, inshallah, with the support of the Nigerian Army and with the support of the Armed Forces, we will not leave a single local government to fall into the hands of the insurgents,” he added.
Zulum expressed confidence that the joint efforts of federal and state authorities would yield the desired results.
On May 21, the governor of Borno accused some Nigerian politicians and members of the armed forces of acting as informants for Boko Haram terrorists.
“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities. What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly,” Zulum said while speaking to News Central TV.
