ABUJA, Nigeria — Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has warned that the Nigerian Army lacks the equipment necessary to effectively counter the increasingly sophisticated tactics of insurgent groups, calling for urgent and decisive intervention by the federal government.
In an interview with News Central on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the governor raised alarm over insurgents’ growing use of drones in combat and urged President Bola Tinubu to listen to the military’s calls for support, rather than relying on political advisers he described as “sycophants.”
“The army does not have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency,” Zulum said.
“Right now, the insurgents are using drones to fight soldiers on the ground.”
Zulum revealed that during a recent visit to the Chief of Army Staff, he was informed of a request for 32 drones — a number the military chief reportedly said could shift the tide in Nigeria’s protracted counterinsurgency war.
The Borno governor, who has been a vocal advocate for enhanced military support since taking office, said the federal government must cut through bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder the timely procurement of essential defence equipment.
“We must prioritise security. National and subnational governments must pool resources together to procure equipment,” Zulum urged.
“My plea is that let us deal with this matter decisively. The president of Nigeria should listen to those that can distinguish between the right and wrong… not sycophants.”
He added that government leaders must take a pragmatic approach rooted in field realities rather than political posturing.
“A few days ago, I said there is an insurgency in Borno state. I commended the federal government for doing very well and that we should come together to resolve the issues,” he said.
“Some people said there is no insecurity in Borno state. We should not politicise insecurity.”
On the ongoing national debate over the creation of state police, Zulum expressed reservations, saying the focus should instead be on reinforcing existing federal security structures.
He argued that the country would be better served by strengthening current institutions with improved funding, logistics, and recruitment rather than establishing new parallel agencies.
Borno State has been the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency since it erupted in 2009.
