Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum made a passionate call on Tuesday, asking the Nigerian Armed Forces to urgently launch a full-scale offensive against terrorist strongholds in the Tumbus Islands, Mandara hills, and Sambisa game reserve — places where Boko Haram and ISWAP hide out and wreak havoc.
Meeting with Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Aneke in Maiduguri, Zulum stressed that despite the threats, a comprehensive military operation combining Naval, Air Force, and Army efforts targeting Tumbus has never truly been carried out. He warned that these enclaves continue to fuel insurgency and that coordinated attacks are vital to end the terrorists’ grip once and for all.
Zulum also called on the Nigerian Air Force to ramp up the use of drones (UAVs) for better surveillance and precision in these zones. He proposed a strategic command meeting in Maiduguri to rethink and strengthen military responses. Praising President Tinubu’s support, Zulum appealed for more funding to equip the military with modern technology needed for effective counter-terror operations.
Air Marshal Aneke affirmed Borno’s critical role in Nigeria’s security landscape, highlighting its borders and position in the Lake Chad Basin as essential for controlling insurgency and cross-border threats. He pledged to increase the Air Force’s readiness and coordination with ground troops, emphasizing the goal of lasting peace in the Northeast as both an operational and moral mission.
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