The recent resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in Borno and neighbouring Yobe state signals a grim return to a past that Nigerians hoped had been buried.
Sadly, instead of those in position of authority to look at the red flags within patriotic prism, many of them instead give the teething problem a political interpretation at a time when communities are being ravaged.
The latest verbal war came to the fore when the Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, while leading an expanded Security Council meeting held at the council chambers, Government House, Maiduguri, expressed concern over the recent attacks on major military formations, saying the state is at the risk of returning to turmoil.
“Many military locations were dislodged, especially in Wulgo, Sabongari and Wajirko, among others. It seems we are losing ground; and this is a very important thing that we need to discuss.
“While we commended the Nigerian military, the police, Department of State Services (DSS), as well as the paramilitary in maintaining law and order in the state, we also have to say the truth, otherwise, all the gains we have made so far will be a mirage.
“It seems the focus of the Nigerian Army and the Federal Ministry of Defence is not in the northeastern states of Nigeria,” the governor said.
This clarion call to action, which ought to have elicited retrospection, soon turned to tackles among government officials.
“I think they (Boko Haram) are on their last legs,” the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris told France 24.
“Hitherto, they were holding territories, especially in the northeastern part of Nigeria – local governments, towns, cities – now it is no longer the case.
“They have largely dissipated; they have ran into the bushes and coming to take some soft targets,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Zulum had criticised the minister, describing him as “naive” about the country’s security realities.
Around the same time, Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, said Boko Haram terrorists had taken over three local government areas, including Guzamala, Marte and Abadam, all in Borno State.
“What we are saying is that there is no civil authority there; the authority is Boko Haram,” he said.
In the neighbouring Yobe State, communities in Geidam Local Government Area, which shares land borders with Niger Republic, and others in Gujba Local Government Area, which is close to Alagarno and Sambisa forests, are living in constant fear.
Obviously, despite repeated government assurances and years of military campaigns, the terror group appears emboldened once again, tightening its grip on swathes of the North-East.
Evidently, vague assurances from military and political leaders do little to ease the fears of people who have lived through over a decade of violence, displacement and broken promises.
The social and economic cost of this insurgency is staggering. Since Boko Haram’s first major attack in 2009, thousands of lives have been lost and millions of people displaced. Farmlands have been abandoned. Markets lie in ruins. Schools have been destroyed or shut down. Insecurity has not only robbed people of their lives and livelihoods but also of hope.
Over the years, successive administrations have made lofty promises but delivered little in terms of lasting solutions. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo dismissed Boko Haram in its infancy, failing to recognise the early warning signs. President Umaru Musa Yar’adua attempted dialogue, but his efforts were disrupted by the extrajudicial killing of the group’s leader, Mohammed Yusuf, which many analysts see as the catalyst for the full-blown insurgency.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan initially underestimated the threat, famously claiming that Boko Haram had infiltrated his government. It was under his tenure that the group seized vast territories and declared a so-called caliphate in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
While President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised to “end Boko Haram within months” had made some initial gains, reclaiming territories and degrading the group’s capacity, these victories were neither sustained nor followed by comprehensive peace-building.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu now finds himself facing a brutal reality. The expectation that he would restore normalcy is quickly eroding. His administration’s approach has so far lacked urgency, coordination and clarity.
Military efforts, including those of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), have at times shown promise. The MNJTF, comprising troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, dealt significant blows to insurgent cells. However, recent cracks in regional cooperation, particularly the political instability in Niger and reduced support from Chad, have contributed to resurgence in cross-border movements of terrorists.
Without full commitment from all regional partners, the borders will remain porous and Nigeria will continue to pay the price. Therefore, Nigeria must reassert civil authority in all territories currently under insurgent influence. This requires not only military might but strategic rebuilding of roads, schools, hospitals, police stations and courts.
Civil administration must return hand in hand with security. The military alone cannot win this war.
Second, the displaced must be returned to their ancestral homes in dignity and safety. Displaced persons camps have become permanent prisons, breeding hopelessness, poverty and radicalisation.
Third, the federal government must strengthen regional diplomacy. A renewed commitment to the MNJTF, with clear objectives and adequate funding, is non-negotiable.
The people of Borno, Yobe and Nigeria in general deserve more than recycled rhetoric.(Daily trust)
