Tension In Borno As Terrorists Kills Over 300, Take Over State
Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume has expressed concern over the escalating resurgence of Boko Haram terrorism in Borno State, revealing that over 300 lives have been lost in 252 attacks within the last six months.
He warned that the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with three local government areas—Gudumbari, Marche, and Abadam—now entirely under Boko Haram control.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, spoke to journalists in Abuja on Sunday following a high-level security meeting between Governor Babagana Zulum and the nation’s military top brass.
The delegation included all three Borno senators, a House of Representatives member, and the governor himself.
“We are worried because just from November last year to date, we experienced 252 attacks in Borno State. In this six-month period, over 100 soldiers were killed. Over 200 civilians were killed,” Ndume said.
The senator commended the efforts of the Nigerian military but acknowledged that they are severely overstretched and under-resourced, despite having eliminated over 800 terrorists within the same period.
He noted that infighting between factions of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) also resulted in an estimated 500 terrorist deaths.
“The Army is doing their best, but they can’t do it without trained and adequate troops,” Ndume said.
“If these things are to be addressed, they must be trained, they must be equipped, they must be armed, and they must be motivated. That’s what I call TEAM.”
He described the security situation in Borno as perilous, with severe restrictions on movement due to insurgent activities. He said most parts of the state have effectively entered a state of curfew.
“Right now, from 6pm you cannot go anywhere except in Southern Borno. Even in Southern Borno, seven local governments out of nine—when it is 6 o’clock, you cannot go anywhere,” he said.
“You cannot even move between one local government and another after 5 o’clock until 8 in the morning—and that is only after the Nigerian Army has scanned the roads manually.”
Senator Ndume also revealed that many military formations have been displaced by Boko Haram insurgents, including those in Wajiruku, Sabongari, Monguno, and Ngala. He stated that the strategic Maiduguri-Biu Road is closed, and even movement to Damboa is now limited to weekly military-escorted convoys.
“The soldiers are not the problem,” Ndume said. “The problem is that they are stretched thin. The total number of personnel in the Armed Forces—including the Army, Air Force, and Navy—is not up to 300,000. That’s not enough to secure a country of over 200 million people.”
The senator called for urgent action from the Federal Government and the international community, stressing that without significant reinforcement, training, and motivation, the situation could spiral further out of control.
Governor Zulum’s visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Chiefs of Army, Air, and Naval Staff, marks a renewed plea for assistance as the state grapples with one of its most dangerous phases in the long-running insurgency.
Boko Haram, a designated terrorist organisation, has waged war against the Nigerian state for over a decade, displacing millions and killing tens of thousands.
Though the group was declared “technically defeated” in the past, recent developments suggest a dangerous comeback.
