• Zulum says Idris ‘naive’ after explosion kills seven 
• Nigerians living in fear, APC leader tells Tinubu, cautions on reversal of gains
• Declare emergency if killings persist in South-East, Ohanaeze urges
• CAS hails troops’ bravery in North-East operations, assures of welfare support
 
Prominent Nigerians at the weekend raised the alarm over worsening insecurity in parts of the country, with former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume lamenting the renewed control of territory by Boko Haram insurgents in parts of Borno State.   
   
This came as Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, described Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, as “naive” about the escalating security challenges. Also, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Osun State, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the growing cases of kidnapping and other security threats across the country.   
   
Recall that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, recently issued a 30-day ultimatum to Southeast governors to urgently tackle the worsening security situation in the region or risk a call for a state of emergency.
   
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said Boko Haram has taken over three local government areas between November 2024 and April 2025. He named these as: Gudumbari, Marte and Abadam.
   
Speaking to journalists at the weekend in Abuja, he urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security and the economy, stressing the need to prioritise the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
   
“We are worried because, from November last year to date, we have recorded 252 attacks in Borno State alone. In just six months, over 100 soldiers and more than 200 civilians have been killed—238 from the records we have,” he said.
   
“Even though the Nigerian Armed Forces are doing their best—they have eliminated over 800 terrorists—the terrorists themselves have killed about 500 of their own due to clashes between ISWAP and Boko Haram. As I speak to you, three local governments are under Boko Haram.”
   
Ndume added that the worsening security situation has made movement impossible across many parts of Borno State after dusk. He said from 6:00 p.m., residents can no longer move freely, even in Southern Borno, and that inter-local government travel is also restricted.
   
“You can’t move between one local government and another after 5:00 p.m. in Borno until 8:00 a.m. the next morning, and that is only after the army manually scans the roads,” he said.
   
Ndume, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on the Army, also lamented the displacement of military formations in parts of the state.
   
“Army formations in Wajiruku, in Sabongari, and even in Monguno and Ngala local government areas have been displaced,” he said.
   
Providing figures on the strength of Nigeria’s security forces, Ndume said the Armed Forces—comprising the Army, Air Force and Navy—number less than 300,000 personnel, a figure he described as grossly inadequate for a country of over 200 million people.
   
“The Armed Forces are deployed in nearly all the 36 states, including Abuja. You can’t secure a country of over 200 million people with 300,000 ill-equipped soldiers,” he said.
   
According to him, the Nigeria Police Force also lacks sufficient manpower and is plagued by poor funding.
   
“The police are not up to 400,000, they are not well-equipped, and worse still, they are poorly paid. Until recently, a fresh recruit in the army or police earned just N50,000. The N70,000 minimum wage is yet to be implemented in most places,” he said.
   
Ndume also criticised the standard of welfare provided to personnel, claiming that security officers are given only N1,500 per day for meals.
   
“These young men are willing to sacrifice their lives for the country, yet their feeding allowance is N1,500 daily. Can you get a decent meal for that amount in Nigeria today?” he asked.
   
The senator stressed that security must be treated as a national priority, especially because military equipment is imported and priced in foreign currencies.
   
“None of the requirements of the Armed Forces is produced locally. A Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle costs over N900 million when converted from dollars. One bullet can cost up to N800. A soldier may dispatch 20 or more in one encounter. Multiply that by the number of troops deployed,” he said.
  
 He urged the Federal Government to focus on three critical areas—security, welfare and the economy—even if it means borrowing to do so.
   
Ndume also criticised the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, for dismissing warnings from the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, about the resurgence of insurgency in the state.
   
“I think I should call him the Minister of Misinformation. He came out to dispute the governor’s statement that we are losing ground to Boko Haram, yet he has never been to Borno to see the reality on ground,” Ndume said.
   
“During Buhari’s regime, Lai Mohammed visited Borno more than twice. At least he made efforts to see things for himself. I felt very bad when the current Minister of Information made such a statement against the chief security officer of a state.”
   
He said the minister’s comment typifies the kind of leadership surrounding the President, reiterating a past criticism that cost him his role as Chief Whip of the Senate.
   
“This is an example of what I said last time—that there are kakistocrats in government—and they came after me for it,” he added.

IN his own words, Zulum faulted Idris for being “naive” about the country’s worsening security situation following a deadly Boko Haram attack along the Damboa-Maiduguri Road.
   
At least eight persons were killed in the explosion which occurred on Saturday along the major highway connecting Damboa to the state capital, Maiduguri. Seven others sustained severe injuries while 14 more suffered minor wounds.
   
The attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents linked to Boko Haram, highlighting the fragile state of security in the region.
   
Reacting to the incident, Zulum criticised the minister for downplaying the scale of insecurity in the state.
   
“I believe the Minister of Information is naive about what is happening in the country. He doesn’t know what is ongoing in the country,” the governor said.
   
Zulum also called for resilience from local communities and renewed effort from the Nigerian Army to secure the Maiduguri-Damboa corridor .
   
“We shall ensure that travel from Maiduguri to Damboa will continue. This will not deter us from following the road, artillery, and all other security agencies to give us security along the road so that such incidents will not happen again,” he added.
   
Zulum also disclosed that he had met with the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Chief of Air Staff in Abuja and received firm assurances of continued military operations in the region.
   
“We are so happy with the response that we had from the service chiefs,” he said.
   
He assured residents that Boko Haram would not regain its former strength in the state.
   
“I want to assure the people of Borno State that, Insha Allah, under my watch, Boko Haram will not have the capacity to do what they did before.”
   
Zulum reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the federal government and the military to end insurgency and restore lasting peace to the state.
   
“I will keep up to the expectations of the people of Borno State by completely addressing the problem of insecurity,” he said.

THE governor’s assurances came as Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, lauded the courage and dedication of troops under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI during a morale-boosting visit to Maiduguri, Borno State.
   
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the CAS commended the personnel for their resilience in confronting insurgents in the North-East.
   
Addressing officers and airmen on the frontline, Air Marshal Abubakar said, “Your sacrifices are etched in the history of this nation and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of your vigilance.” He reiterated his commitment to improving their welfare and ensuring operational effectiveness.
  
The statement noted that the visit featured direct interactions with troops and briefings from field commanders on recent operational gains, including the strategic impact of precision air strikes and close air support.
   
Abubakar reaffirmed the NAF’s resolve to maintain air superiority and pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline operations. The visit, according to the statement, also underscored the importance of public support and the enduring role of personnel in safeguarding the nation.
 
MEANWHILE, speaking with journalists in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Osun State APC chieftain, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, warned that the gains recorded by security agencies in the fight against insecurity risk being reversed by the surge in abductions being reported in various parts of the country.
   
Oyintiloye, a former member of the Osun State House of Assembly who represented Obokun Constituency, said the spate of kidnappings had created widespread fear and anxiety among Nigerians.
   
He called for strengthened collaboration among security agencies to effectively confront the surge in kidnappings and other criminal acts, stressing that the perpetrators were not invisible and could be apprehended through coordinated efforts.
   
The APC stalwart described security as a collective responsibility, and urged citizens to support the government by providing intelligence that could assist law enforcement in curbing the activities of criminals.
   
“There is no doubt that the president is doing everything humanly possible to tackle insecurity challenges in the country, but the collaboration of the citizens is also important. The recent upsurge in kidnapping is a serious concern to Nigerians,” he said.
   
“This recent ugly incident underscores the urgent attention by the president and the security agencies to fight back with full force for the peace and stability of the country,” Oyintiloye added.
   
WHILE issuing its 30-day ultimatum to Southeast governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo expressed deep concern over increased attacks, which it claimed have cost over 300 lives in the first quarter of 2025 alone. 
   
The group attributed the violence primarily to assaults by Fulani herdsmen.
    
In a statement signed by the Deputy President General of the organisation, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze criticised what it described as the “lackadaisical attitude” of the governors and warned that if they fail to act within the given timeframe, the group would call on President Tinubu to invoke Section 305 of the Constitution to declare emergency rule in the affected states.
   
The group identified Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra as major flashpoints, highlighting specific communities like Ehamufu, Okigwe, Nkalaaha, Uturu and Umunze.
   
It decried the impact of the violence on farming, food security, and investment in the region, urging the governors to expel killer herdsmen and restore peace.
   
Ohanaeze concluded by calling on Southeast leaders to show courage and responsibility in confronting the crisis head-on.