Borno Governor Calls for Intensified Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Insurgents
- Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has urged the Nigerian Air Force to intensify aerial operations against insurgents in remote and rugged terrains
- He praised recent counterinsurgency gains and pledged full state support for expanded air missions using advanced platforms like UAVs
- Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar commended Borno’s non-kinetic “Borno Model” for improving regional security through reconciliation and reintegration
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has called on the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to deploy heavier air power to dislodge Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters entrenched in remote and rugged terrains across the Lake Chad region, Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, and Mandara Mountains.
Speaking in Maiduguri on Tuesday during a meeting with the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, Governor Zulum emphasised the strategic importance of aerial operations in areas inaccessible to ground troops.
Source: Twitter
“Despite NAF’s enormous contributions to peace in Borno, we still need more air power in our Area of Responsibility, especially in hard-to-reach insurgent enclaves,” Zulum said.
He acknowledged the Nigerian Air Force’s deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other advanced platforms, pledging the Borno State Government’s full support to ensure operational success. The governor also praised the growing synergy between NAF and other security agencies, attributing recent counterinsurgency gains to improved collaboration.
Air Marshal Abubakar highlights success of non-kinetic “Borno model”
In response, Air Marshal Abubakar commended Governor Zulum’s leadership and the state’s innovative “Borno Model” of deradicalisation and reintegration. He described the approach as a community-driven, non-kinetic strategy that has yielded tangible improvements in regional security.
“The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Deradicalization programme, focused on healing and reconciliation rather than punishment, has improved security across Borno and the wider North East,” Abubakar said.
He further noted that the air component of Operation Hadin Kai has intensified its operations to unprecedented levels in 2025, reinforcing the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in the region.
Strategic collaboration key to sustained peace
The meeting depicted the critical role of aerial firepower and inter-agency cooperation in tackling insurgency in Nigeria’s North East. As Borno continues to grapple with the remnants of extremist violence, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to a multi-pronged strategy combining military precision with community-led reconciliation.
Governor Zulum’s appeal for enhanced air support signals a renewed push to secure hard-to-reach insurgent strongholds and consolidate recent gains in the fight against terrorism.
Source: Twitter
Governor announces fast to end Boko Haram terror
Legit.ng earlier reported that Muslim and Christian faithful across Borno state observed a one-day fasting and prayer session aimed at ending the persistent Boko Haram attacks in the state.
The spiritual exercise was observed on Monday, May 19, after Governor Babagana Zulum, in a state-wide broadcast on Saturday, May 17, appealed to residents to embark on a one-day fast to seek divine intervention in the state’s fight against insurgency.
In response to the governor’s call, the Borno state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in a statement signed by its secretary, Apostle Joshua Akeredolu, urged Christian faithful to participate in the fast.
Source: Legit.ng
