Zulum To FG Minister: You’re Naive About Boko Haram, Stop Misleading The Nation

Zulum Responds to Minister Idris Over Boko Haram Resurgence Remarks....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has pushed back against comments made by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, following his recent warnings about deteriorating security in the state.

Zulum had raised alarms over the re-emergence of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), citing an increase in attacks and kidnappings that suggest security forces are losing ground. However, the Minister’s office dismissed these claims, accusing the governor of misrepresenting the situation.

Speaking during a security meeting in Maiduguri on Tuesday, Zulum expressed concern about the growing threat in the region, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have long been active—causing widespread displacement, civilian casualties, and assaults on security personnel.

Minister Idris Denies Downplaying Security Concerns

Reacting to the media reports, Minister Idris, through his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, denied making any statements that dismissed Zulum’s concerns. He clarified:

“At no point did the Minister say, ‘Ignore Zulum, Boko Haram is not taking over Borno.’ That statement is a fabrication intended to mislead the public and distort the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to address insecurity.”

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling security challenges nationwide and urged the public to avoid being misled by sensational headlines.

Zulum: Minister Out of Touch With Reality

In an interview with journalists, Governor Zulum described the Minister’s response as uninformed, stating:

“I don’t want to trade words with the Minister, but I believe he is naïve about the actual situation in the country. We simply raised an alarm about the resurgence of Boko Haram and urged all relevant authorities to work together to prevent escalation. That’s responsible governance, not misinformation.”

He further emphasized that the state government had met with top military officials in Abuja—including the Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs—who assured him of renewed commitment to the fight against insurgency.

“I want to assure the people of Borno that under my leadership, Boko Haram will never regain the strength they once had. We will continue to support the military, bolster the efforts of our civilian joint task force, hunters, and vigilantes, and take decisive action to secure our state.”

Zulum concluded by noting that despite progress since 2019, the recent surge in attacks would not go unchecked:

“There has been significant progress since 2019, but the current situation requires urgent action. We will not allow these threats to persist.”