Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has raised fresh concerns about the resurgence of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists across critical areas of the state.

During a meeting in Maiduguri with the Minister of Defence on Friday, Badaru Abubakar, and senior military chiefs, Zulum explained that insurgents are steadily regrouping around the Lake Chad Tumbus and Mandara Hills in the Sambisa Forest.

He emphasised the difficulties security forces face in maintaining control, saying, “What we are facing now is, we do military exercises/operations, and after some time, we disengage. The Boko Haram and ISWAP members will again come and take over those areas that were hitherto regained.”

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The governor further stressed that the waterlogged Tumbus areas provide insurgents with a strong base to rebuild, find resources, and evade military operations.

He lamented that there has never been a comprehensive military effort focused on disrupting terrorist activities along the Lake Chad shores, allowing them to grow stronger.

According to Zulum, Boko Haram and ISWAP are not operating in isolation, as they are receiving significant international support.

He also pointed to the country’s porous borders as a major security loophole, noting that insurgents easily infiltrate Nigeria through the Sahel region.

The alarm comes days after security analyst Bulama Bukarti warned that Boko Haram is now leveraging platforms like TikTok to spread its influence.

This concern was further compounded by Senator Ali Ndume’s revelation that within a six-month period, about 100 soldiers and 280 civilians were killed by insurgents.

Governor Zulum’s warning highlights the urgent need for Nigeria’s security agencies to re-strategize, particularly in conducting sustained operations in waterways and border regions, to prevent the insurgents from regrouping and expanding their reach.