Zulum calls for more ‘air power’ to eliminate insurgents in Borno

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, has called for “heavy” airstrikes to eliminate insurgents in the state.

Zulum spoke on Tuesday when Hassan Abubakar, chief of air staff, visited him at the government house in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The governor commended the role of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in combating insecurity in the state and noted the need to ramp up airstrikes.

“Notwithstanding the enormous contribution to the enhancement of peace and security in the state by the NAF, we still need more in terms of air power in the general area of responsibility (AoR), especially in the shores of Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle and Mandara Mountains,” he said.

“These areas are very difficult to be manned effectively by ground troops alone. We need heavy air power in order to eliminate the insurgents and address insecurity in the general area.

“I wish to assure you that the Borno state government remains fully committed to working in partnership with the NAF and other stakeholders to consolidate the gains we have achieved and address the gaps that persist.”

Abubakar lauded Zulum’s deradicalisation and reintegration programme for repentant terrorists.

“Let me at this juncture join many others that have commended the Borno Model, which is a community-driven non-kinetic strategy developed by the Borno state government to address terrorism and the attendant humanitarian crises in the state,” the air chief said.

“Undoubtedly, it has yielded positive results over the years, most evidently the deradicalisation programme.

“The model has been largely successful with the active participation of community-based groups, coupled with its focus on healing and reconciliation rather than punishment, especially for those forced into terrorism.”

The air chief added that the Borno government’s support is yielding results in the insurgency war.