Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno state, on Wednesday said the security situation in the state has significantly improved, declaring that “the worst is over.”
Governor Zulum made this statement during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Shuaibu Waidi, in Maiduguri.
Zulum, while delivering his remarks, stated that compared to the peak of the crisis years ago, the current security landscape, despite recent setbacks, shows significant improvement.
He also called on the people of Borno State to continue cooperating with and supporting the military and other security agencies.
Governor Zulum, highlighted that the war against terrorism requires collective effort, urging residents of the state to be vigilant and provide timely intelligence to security operatives to prevent attacks and ensure lasting peace in the state.
Zulum in his statement said “Yes, we have witnessed a series of attacks on our communities and the security forces, but the worst is over; we shall continue to collaborate and provide the needed intelligence to our security forces to bring this madness to an end,”.
He also added “The frequency and scale of attacks on our communities then were overwhelming. Today, while we grieve any single setback, we can also see that the worst is indeed behind us. The trajectory is toward peace, and we are committed to sustaining it,”.
Zulum sympathizes with the Nigerian Army over the recent tactical setbacks across the Nation.
He praised the sacrifice and bravery of officers and soldiers, describing them as heroes who, in some cases, pay the ultimate price for the nation’s security.
“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to reiterate that we stand with the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not take their sacrifice for granted,” he said.
In response, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi, assured that Army headquarters would provide the necessary logistics to the troops and commended Zulum for his support to the armed forces.
“I want to most sincerely, on behalf of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army, extend our appreciation to His Excellency for visiting us at a time like this. We appreciate your support in Borno,” he said.
“We have confidence in our society here in the theatre and, from Army headquarters, we will provide all the necessary resources needed to ensure they achieve their mission,” he added.
On Tuesday, the governor appealed to the Nigerian Armed Forces to launch an urgent, full-scale offensive against terrorist strongholds in the Tumbus Islands of Lake Chad, the Mandara Hills and the Sambisa Forest.
Credit: Punch
