End this terrorism madness, Zulum urges CAS

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has issued a blunt and urgent call for a full-scale, joint military offensive to wipe out terrorist enclaves in the Lake Chad region, declaring that Nigeria must “end this madness once and for all.”

Governor Zulum made the appeal on Monday while receiving the newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, at the Government House in Maiduguri.

He said the time had come for the Army, Navy and Air Force to launch a coordinated, technology-backed assault on the insurgent strongholds known as the Tumbus, a labyrinth of islands that have long served as hideouts for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.

“I want to bring to your kind notice that a thorough military operation involving the Navy, Air Force and Army, purposely intended to rid off the Tumbus, has never been conducted,” Zulum said.

“If we want to bring down insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria, we must address the challenges we are facing in the Lake Chad. The area has provided a safe haven for the terrorists, this is our major problem now,” he added.

Zulum stressed that the fight cannot be won without dislodging insurgents from three critical zones: the Lake Chad islands, the Sambisa Games Reserve, and the Mandara Mountains.

“We still have two enclaves, the Sambisa Games Reserve as well as the Mandara hills,” the governor noted. “We need a coordinated operation with a view to addressing this menace in these areas.”

He warned that while security forces often hit terrorist positions, the absence of sustained presence allows insurgents to return. “We hit them, but we don’t hold ground and then they come back,” he said.

The governor urged the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to deploy more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into the theatre of operations, saying advanced technology would be decisive in ending the conflict.

He further proposed that the Armed Forces’ Command and Control structures convene a strategic meeting in Maiduguri to jointly craft a final coordinated push.

“This is not the time for lamentations. Nigerians must come together to end insurgency,” Zulum said.

He also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide additional funding and modern hardware to the military, insisting that the troops must be fully equipped for the task ahead.

Despite the grim realities, the governor acknowledged the Nigerian Air Force’s consistent support and expressed confidence that, with renewed coordination and dedication, insurgency would be defeated.

In his remarks, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke praised Governor Zulum for what he called visionary, community-based initiatives that have stabilised local communities and facilitated post-conflict recovery across Borno.

“The ‘Borno Model’ of community engagement and reconciliation prioritising healing, reintegration, and local ownership has become a reference point across the North-East and beyond,” the CAS said.

Aneke also commended the governor’s direct interventions, including strategic land allocations and steady logistical support, which he said have strengthened NAF’s operations in Maiduguri.

Since assuming office, the CAS said he has directed commanders to enhance operational readiness, deepen integration with ground forces, and apply airpower more intelligently to support stabilisation efforts.

“I have directed my commanders to minimise or eliminate collateral damage. The good people of Borno deserve nothing else,” he said.

He reassured the governor of full cooperation, adding, “I’ve gone through your résumé, and I am very sure that we will coordinate effectively with the Army to bring this madness to an end.”

Zulum reiterated his confidence in the military, saying he believed that with commitment and joint strategy, the North-East could finally turn the page on insurgency.
“I want to acknowledge the tremendous support we’ve been receiving from the Nigerian Air Force. I assure you of my continued support. It requires commitment and together, we can end this crisis,” he said.