Zulum vows to crush renewed insurgency, warns political saboteurs
•JNI condemns triple blasts, seeks decisive action •PDP to security agencies: Stop reactive responses •Three policemen, vigilante group leader killed in Taraba •Herders attack Benue community, machete two persons From
•JNI condemns triple blasts, seeks decisive action •PDP to security agencies: Stop reactive responses •Three policemen, vigilante group leader killed in Taraba •Herders attack Benue community, machete two persons
From Duku Joel, Maiduguri, AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna, John Mkom, Jalingo, Tony Akowe, Abuja, and Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, yesterday vowed to decisively address renewed terror attacks, warning that insurgents’ collaborators would be hunted down.
Zulum, in a broadcast, attributed the resurgence of attacks to military offensives in terrorists’ strongholds, which have forced them into civilian communities.
“These cowardly elements who seek to disturb our peace will obtain no sanctuary in Borno State. We have been constantly assessing the situation, and a robust, coordinated response is already in motion,” he said.
He described those providing logistics, shelter or information to terrorists as saboteurs, assuring residents that the situation was under control.
“You are not patriots; you are enemies of the state. Your time is up,” he warned.
The governor urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies, while calling on Christians and Muslims to pray for peace. He also advised residents to observe Eid-el-Fitr prayers within their immediate communities for safety.
Zulum reaffirmed his loyalty to Vice President Kashim Shettima and commitment to fairness among political office holders from the state.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for releasing funds for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and other operations, and praised the efforts of the Armed Forces, Police, DSS, CJTF and local hunters.
“Borno shall not fall into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents, insha Allah,” he said, seeking continued support from traditional and religious leaders.
Condemning the triple blasts in Maiduguri, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) described the attacks as barbaric and devastating.
The group, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, said it was disturbing that the insurgents struck during Iftar and evening prayers.
In a statement by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, JNI said the attacks bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), noting they came when insurgency was believed to have been largely degraded in the Northeast.
The Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged security agencies to stop reactive responses to insecurity.
A statement by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said: “The just-released Global Terrorism Index 2026 by the Institute for Economics and Peace indicates that our country, under the APC-led government, ranks fourth globally in the impact of terrorism.
“Nigeria and four other countries accounted for almost 70 per cent of deaths from terrorism. Nigeria also recorded one of the largest increases in such deaths.
“We call on the President and the entire security hierarchy to move beyond reactive responses and adopt a whole-of-society approach to tackling insecurity.”
In Taraba State, three policemen, a vigilante leader and some villagers were killed by armed bandits in Tor-Damsa, a Tiv community in Donga Local Government Area.
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Police spokesman Victor Msherize said officers responded to a distress call from a resident and were led to the scene by the Donga Divisional Police Officer alongside Special Force operatives.
He said the attackers opened fire on sighting the operatives, who repelled them, forcing their withdrawal.
Msherize said Corporals Raphael Danjuma and Ebenezer Daniel were killed, while Samuel Bawa, earlier reported missing, was later found dead.
“Additionally, Nutsa Tyav, a 60-year-old Chairman of the Vigilante Group in Tordamisa, was recovered dead,” he said.
Police said security had been reinforced in the area and efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.
In Benue State, suspected herders attacked two fishermen along Ayilamo-Anyibe Road in Mbakorya, Tombo Ward, Logo Local Government Area.
The attack occurred around 5pm last Friday.
A Benue community leader, Chief Peter Anyibe, said the victims, Aondokaa Faga and Koko Lorshe, were returning from a fishing trip when they were ambushed.
He said the attackers inflicted machete injuries on both victims, who were later hospitalised.
The Divisional Police Officer of Ayilamo confirmed the incident, adding that investigations had begun.
