Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has voiced his profound frustration, stating he explicitly warned the Nigerian military about the vulnerability of the border town of Kirawa before it was overrun by Boko Haram insurgents. The attack has led to the death of two people, the destruction of major infrastructure, and the mass displacement of over 5,000 residents who have fled into neighboring Cameroon.
The renewed attack on Kirawa, which occurred on Thursday, came immediately after Cameroonian troops stationed there were withdrawn.
Zulum: “My Request Did Not Receive Deserved Attention”
Governor Zulum, who mobilized Civilian JTF fighters and Nigerian troops to the deserted town on Friday, confirmed he had given the military advanced notice of the danger.
“I duly notified the Nigerian military of the dangers of leaving this town without security… Unfortunately, my request did not receive the deserved attention, and the insurgents came on Wednesday and vandalized everything we worked so hard to rebuild.”
The attack resulted in the burning of 50 houses, eight vehicles, and heavy-duty equipment. The town’s District Head, Abdulrahman Abubakar, confirmed that he was forced to flee to Cameroon, and residents used trucks to escape across the border. Boko Haram has since claimed control of the deserted town.
Zulum appealed to the Federal Government for urgent funding and equipment to strengthen security operations, stressing that the key to combating insurgency lies in military commitment and consistent operations, not just troop numbers.
Shettima Speaks on Gaza While Borno Burns
This catastrophic security lapse and mass displacement in Borno State take place against a backdrop of striking political optics involving Vice President Kashim Shettima, the immediate past Governor and Senator of Borno.
Shettima recently captured global attention at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he delivered a powerful address on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for justice and global empathy.
However, critics have highlighted a glaring hypocrisy: while Shettima passionately advocated for the suffering thousands of miles away, the escalating security crisis in his own home state of Borno—the very region he governed—is being actively ignored or handled with devastating negligence, as evidenced by Governor Zulum’s explicit accusation of military non-responsiveness.
The juxtaposition of the Vice President’s vocal international advocacy with the abandonment of Borno communities, resulting in 5,000 citizens fleeing Nigeria, underscores a perceived prioritization of international politics over the immediate and dire security needs of the country’s most vulnerable region. The ongoing violence, including the September 19 raid on Banki where soldiers were dislodged and weapons seized, further solidifies the view that domestic security is collapsing even as national leaders focus their empathy abroad.
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