ZULUM’S BOMBSHELL ON BOKO HARAM COLLABORATORS, REOPENS OLD WOUNDS

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has reignited national anxiety with his recent assertion that some military officers and politicians are actively aiding Boko Haram terrorists. While not entirely new, Zulum’s claim echoes former President Goodluck Jonathan’s chilling 2012 admission that Boko Haram operatives had infiltrated his government, including the security forces and all arms of governance. Despite the gravity of such statements, successive administrations have failed to publicly identify or prosecute any collaborators, allowing the insurgency to persist and evolve unchecked.
Zulum’s warning is especially significant because it comes at a time when Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts appear to be stagnating, with sporadic attacks resurfacing in Borno and surrounding states. His call should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric but taken as a demand for accountability in a war now spanning over a decade. The implications are damning — the problem is not just external terrorism but internal betrayal.
A landmark prosecution in the UAE in 2020 saw six Nigerians jailed for funding Boko Haram. Yet, no comparable accountability has occurred within Nigeria, despite the Buhari administration’s 2021 announcement that it had identified and begun prosecuting sponsors. Till date, no names, trials, or convictions have been made public. This continued silence undermines both justice and the morale of a population weary of burying victims of terror.
Governor Zulum deserves credit for his bravery, but Nigeria now needs more than courage — it needs names, prosecutions, and justice. Without dismantling the financial and political scaffolding of terror, the bloodshed will continue. The era of vague accusations must end. The nation demands transparency and the will to act, regardless of whose names surface.