Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has appealed to the Federal Government and the Nigeria Armed Forces to take all necessary measures to tackle the renewed insurgent attacks on communities and security establishments across the state.

Babagana Zulum made the appeal while delivering opening remarks during the Special Expanded Security Council Meeting, summoned to find the root causes of the recent resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the state and some parts of the North-Eastern region.

The Governor said the resurgence of the activities of insurgents is a source of serious concern to the government and the people of the state. He noted that his administration has been very supportive of the military in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists, leading to relative peace in the last three years.

He, however, lamented that the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa Local Government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, and Izge in Gwoza Local Government Area, among other related killings of innocent civilians and security personnel, represent a serious concern and a setback in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region. He urged the military to take the battle to the insurgents’ hideouts and stop them from regrouping.

Professor Zulum stressed that more efforts have to be put in place through equipping the military and deploying technological warfare to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedeviling parts of Sahelian Borno, which shares an international border with three African countries: Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

The Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, speaking on behalf of the traditional leaders, commended the sacrifices made by the security operatives in the state toward the restoration of relative peace. However, he called for the restoration of civil authorities in Guzamala, Abadam, and Marte Local Government Areas and equally appealed for the rehabilitation of deplorable roads across the state.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, said that the heads of the participating security agencies have assured the security council that counter-insurgency operations would be intensified, with renewed efforts focused on ending the menace of insecurity in Borno State and the North-east.

The expanded security meeting, chaired by the state governor, also had in attendance the heads of security establishments in the state, led by the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Wadi Shaibu, traditional leaders led by the Shehu of Borno, and some members of the State Executive Council.