Borno Governor Raises Alarm Over Boko Haram Resurgence
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State sent shockwaves through Nigeria on April 8, 2025, warning that Boko Haram is staging a deadly comeback, seizing territory and intensifying attacks with little resistance from security forces. Speaking at an emergency security meeting in Maiduguri, Zulum declared the state is “losing ground” to the insurgents, a chilling reversal after years of fragile peace. With recent assaults dislodging military outposts and killing dozens, his urgent plea for action underscores a spiraling crisis in Nigeria’s northeast as of April 9, 2025.
Zulum’s Dire Warning: “We’re Slipping Back”
At the Government House in Maiduguri, Zulum addressed top military brass, police chiefs, and traditional leaders, including the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi. “The renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings, almost daily without confrontation, signal we are losing ground,” he said, per Daily Post. He cited overrun military posts in Wajirko, Sabon Gari, Wulgo, and Izge, where insurgents killed civilians and troops. “It’s a setback for Borno and the Northeast,” Zulum stressed, warning of a return to chaos unless the federal government acts swiftly, according to Reuters.
Boko Haram’s Bold Return: Bloodshed and Chaos
The Islamist group, once pushed back by military gains, is roaring back. On April 2, Boko Haram slaughtered 52 in Bokkos, Plateau State, per Amnesty International, while last week, they killed 16 in Kebbi and abducted 60 in Zamfara. In Borno, attacks on military bases like Wajiroko on March 25 claimed 16 lives, security sources told Reuters. The group’s tactics—drones, IEDs, and hit-and-run raids—have evolved, exploiting Nigeria’s stretched forces and Niger’s exit from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), per Daily Post. “They’re bolder now,” said a Maiduguri resident to PRNigeria, reflecting rising fear.
Call to Arms: Zulum Demands Tech and Troops
Zulum didn’t just lament—he demanded solutions. “We need fighter helicopters, surveillance drones, and advanced technology,” he urged, per Legit.ng, targeting Borno’s porous borders with Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. He criticized the Nigerian Army’s focus drifting from the Northeast, telling TV360 Nigeria, “The Sahel is critical—we can’t let insurgents regroup.” The Shehu of Borno echoed this, noting Guzamala, Marte, and Abadam remain under Boko Haram control, devoid of civil authority, per Platform Times. Zulum’s plea: equip the military, or lose the region.
Public Outcry: Desperation Meets Doubt
Reaction was swift and raw. On X, #BokoHaramResurgence hit 50,000 posts by April 9 evening PDT, with users like @Africa_lix amplifying Zulum’s alarm. “How long before Maiduguri falls?” asked one, while another doubted, “More talk, no action.” Protests flared in Borno, with citizens demanding protection after years of displacement—2.3 million since 2013, per Wikipedia. “We’ve suffered enough,” a displaced farmer told Daily Trust. Analysts like Dr. Kabir Adamu, cited by Punch, warn Boko Haram’s gains threaten Nigeria’s stability amid economic woes like Trump’s tariffs.
Nigeria’s Next Move: A Race Against Collapse
Zulum tied Borno’s fate to national survival. “If we don’t stop this, the gains of peace evaporate,” he said, per PRNigeria. The military, silent as of April 9, faces pressure to respond—past claims of “technical defeat” in 2019 ring hollow now. President Tinubu, praised by Zulum for support, must decide: bolster the Northeast or risk a broader insurgency. With the Lake Chad region a tinderbox and 2024’s 3,641 abductions (ACLED data) as a backdrop, Zulum’s alarm is Nigeria’s wake-up call—can it answer before Boko Haram reclaims the north?
