BORNO State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has passionately appealed to the Nigerian Armed Forces to launch an urgent, full-scale offensive against terrorist strongholds in the Tumbus Islands of Lake Chad, the Mandara Hills, and the Sambisa Forest, declaring that such action is necessary to ‘end their madness.’
News Point Nigeria reports that Governor Zulum made the call on Tuesday during a meeting with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, who paid a working visit to Maiduguri as part of ongoing assessments of counterterrorism operations in the North-East.
Speaking with visible frustration over persistent terror attacks originating from the Lake Chad axis, Zulum described the Tumbus Islands and Mandara Hills, situated across the marshlands and waterways of Lake Chad as entrenched operational bases for Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
He lamented that despite years of military engagement, a full, joint operation involving the Navy, Air Force, and Army had never been executed to completely clear the Tumbus region.
“A thorough military operation that involves the Naval, Air Force and Army, purposely intended to rid off the Mandara Hills and Tumbus has never been conducted,” Zulum said.
“If we want to bring down insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria, we must address the challenges we are facing in Lake Chad. The area has provided a safe haven for the terrorists. This is our major problem now.”
The governor identified Sambisa Game Reserve and the Mandara Hills as the two remaining enclaves shielding terrorist factions, insisting that only a well-coordinated, multi-agency attack would neutralise the threats embedded in these terrains.
Zulum further urged the Nigerian Air Force to deploy additional Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the North-East theatre, stressing that enhanced aerial surveillance and rapid engagement capability are key to achieving decisive victories.
He also proposed the convening of a strategic command-and-control meeting in Maiduguri, where top military brass could harmonise tactics for upcoming operations.
The governor expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his consistent support to the armed forces, while appealing for increased funding to help the military acquire cutting-edge equipment needed to sustain counter-insurgency missions.
In his response, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Aneke acknowledged the strategic significance of Borno State in Nigeria’s national security framework, citing its borders and Lake Chad Basin location as critical zones influencing cross-border insurgent movement.
Aneke reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to restoring enduring peace across the region, describing the mission as both an operational necessity and a moral obligation.
“The restoration of lasting peace in Borno is central to our operations. I have directed increased focus on operational readiness, integration with ground forces, and intelligent application of airpower in support of stabilisation efforts,” he said.
The meeting comes amid renewed attacks in the North-East and growing calls for a decisive final push to clear the remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters from their hiding places.