Borno state Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has urged the Nigerian military to sustain operations in border communities to prevent renewed Boko Haram attacks following the withdrawal of Cameroonian troops from Kirawa, a town once captured by insurgents in Gwoza Local Government Area.
The governor who mobilised civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) fighters and troops to Kirawa after the insurgents invaded the town last week, killing residents and setting houses ablaze, expressed deep concern over the displacement of residents and the destruction of property.
During an assessment visit on Friday, Zulum lamented that warnings he issued to the military about the dangers of leaving the area vulnerable went unheeded.
“Yes, Cameroonian troops have withdrawn, but that doesn’t mean that the Nigerian Army should leave the area vacant. We resettled this town about seven years ago with their support. Unfortunately, returnees were displaced by the insurgents,” he said.
Zulum stressed that Kirawa and other border communities such as Wilgo, Baga, Damasak and Malamfatori hold strategic importance and must not be abandoned. He noted that the insurgents’ recent attack undermined years of stabilization and rebuilding efforts.
The governor also pledged to strengthen local defence structures by equipping civilian JTF and vigilante groups. He revealed that the state government was exploring modern technological tools to enhance security.
“I see no reason why very few members of Boko Haram will come to defeat the entire community without resistance,” he told them.
He appealed to the federal government and the Chief of Defence Staff to release funds and procure equipment to bolster counter-insurgency operations as the rainy season draws to a close. He also emphasized the importance of sustaining operations rather than carrying out sporadic offensives.
Zulum argued that military gains must be consolidated with stabilization, recovery, reconstruction and resettlement to prevent communities from being displaced again.
“Once Kirawa is displaced, adjoining communities like Pulka and Ngoshe will follow, and gradually it will reach Gwoza headquarters and cut off the road,” he warned.
While acknowledging the Army’s limited manpower, Zulum insisted that strategic towns must remain secured to avoid further setbacks.
He expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff for his prompt response after the Kirawa attack and urged continued collaboration to protect border communities.
Gov Zulum seeks sustained military action in Kirawa community reclaimed from insurgents