The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, has assured the Borno State Government of increased military support to counter emerging security threats in the state and the North East region.
Badaru who is in Maiduguri in company of Minister of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum at the government house in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
He said the high-level visit was on the directive of President Bola Tinubu to assess the situation on ground and determine the additional requirements of the security forces in terms of personnel and equipment.
“We are here to engage our troops here and find out what their requirements are, so as to stop the new trend of insecurity we have been seeing in Borno State and the North East,”
“Ours is to find out what they need in terms of men and equipment. The President has given us the directive to make sure we provide everything required to stop this ugly tide"
“We know that Borno State has enjoyed relative peace for some time now due to your determination, and people have returned to their towns and villages to rebuild their lives,” Badaru told Zulum.
He expressed concern that recent developments were threatening those gains but reassured the governor of the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining peace in the region.
According to the minister, a daily situation report will be submitted to the President, and the military high command will maintain a strong focus on the North East theatre of operations.
He also sought the governor’s guidance on improving military operations, noting Zulum’s vast experience and continued presence in the state.
“We are here to engage you and the state on what advice and guidance you might have for the Armed Forces. We believe your suggestions and ideas will help us further strengthen our strategies and tactics on how to end this insecurity,” Badaru stressed.
Governor Babagana Zulum appreciated the delegation for the visit and expressed optimism that it would mark a turning point in addressing the region’s security challenges.
“I want to most sincerely thank you for this visit, and it is our sincere hope that this visit will change the security narrative in Borno State. A lot has been said about what is ongoing in Borno State, but insha’Allah, we are optimistic that the security situation will be okay very soon"
“We have to be resilient enough and ensure that the successes that have so far been recorded will not diminish, insha’Allah,”
The governor pledged continued political support to the military in the fight against insurgency and lauded the Federal Government for its sustained commitment to Borno’s stability.
“I want to assure you that I will provide the necessary political aid and commitment needed to collaborate and support the Nigerian military with the duty of ending the insurgency.
“I also want to commend the Federal Government, the Ministry of Defence, and the service chiefs for all the support they have rendered to the government and good people of Borno State.”
Zulum specifically commended the outgoing Theatre Commander and the General Officer Commanding Sector 3 for their contributions to restoring peace.
He, however, raised concerns about limited military manpower, especially in managing the state’s forests and porous borders, and called for increased deployment of trained personnel to the region.
“Some of the problems we are facing in Borno State include limited manpower to manage our forests. Manpower is very essential. While I am aware of the constraints of the Nigerian Army, because you are everywhere – North West, North Central, North East, even South – I still believe the Army should look into the possibility of sending more trained manpower to the North East,”.
He noted the difference between various armed groups including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits, highlighting international support to the former and the strategic importance of the Sahel.
“There is a difference between ISWAP, Boko Haram, and bandits. ISWAP and Boko Haram are receiving international support. Looking at our forest borders and the many immigrants entering through the Sahel, this is a major problem"
“If the Sahel is not secured, the entire Nigeria will not be secured. So there is a need to fortify the security situation in the Sahel in order to end the crisis across the country,”
Zulum also emphasised the need for continuous military operations to sustain gains and ensure lasting peace in the region.
~2.png)
0 Comments