Maiduguri (Nigeria): Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno State on Wednesday said the security situation in the state has significantly improved, declaring that “the worst is over.”
Zulum made this known during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, in Maiduguri.
He said that compared to the peak of the crisis years ago, the current security landscape, despite recent setbacks, shows significant improvement.
Zulum urged residents to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely intelligence to help prevent attacks and consolidate peace.
“Yes, we have witnessed a series of attacks on our communities and the security forces, but the worst is over.
” We shall continue to collaborate and provide the needed intelligence to our security forces to bring this madness to an end,” he said.
“The frequency and scale of attacks on our communities then were overwhelming.
“Today, while we grieve any single setback, we can also see that the worst is indeed behind us. The trajectory is towards peace, and we are committed to sustaining it,” the governor said.
He commiserated with the Nigerian Army over recent tactical setbacks and praised the officers and soldiers for their bravery and sacrifices, describing them as national heroes.
“On behalf of the government and people of Borno, I wish to reiterate that we stand with the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not take their sacrifice for granted,” he said.
In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Waidi assured that the army headquarters would provide all necessary logistics and resources to the troops operating in the state.
He also commended Zulum for his continued support of the military.
“I want to most sincerely, on behalf of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army, extend our appreciation to His Excellency for visiting us at a time like this. We appreciate your support in Borno,” he said.
The COAS said the Army has confidence in the society within the theatre of operations and pledged full backing to ensure the troops achieve their mission.