(DDM) – Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has expressed outrage over renewed Boko Haram attacks in Kirawa town, Gwoza Local Government Area, blaming the Nigerian military for ignoring his earlier warnings about the dangers of leaving the community unprotected.
According to findings by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), the governor made the revelation while visiting the troubled area on Friday, days after insurgents burned down homes, a military barracks, and the palace of the district head, forcing thousands of residents to flee into neighbouring Cameroon.
Governor Zulum disclosed that he had formally notified the Nigerian military about the looming threat following the withdrawal of Cameroonian troops who had previously provided security support for the border communities.
He lamented that despite his repeated alerts, the necessary military reinforcements were not deployed in time, allowing the insurgents to strike with devastating consequences.
“I duly notified the Nigerian military of the dangers of leaving this town without security,” Zulum said.
“This is a border community, Wilgo, Kirawa, Baga, Damasak, Malamfatori, and others, that must be protected because of their strategic importance.”
The governor described the attack as a major setback to reconstruction efforts in the region, revealing that fifty houses, several vehicles, and heavy-duty equipment were destroyed while two people lost their lives.
He thanked God that casualties were minimal but stressed that the attack could have been prevented had security measures been taken earlier.
Zulum confirmed that the Nigerian Army has now agreed to redeploy soldiers to Kirawa and other vulnerable communities, while the state government will provide logistics support to local defence groups.
“The second measure we have undertaken is to provide our gallant Civilian JTF and vigilante with the needed equipment to safeguard the town,” he stated.
He appealed to the Federal Government and the Chief of Defence Staff to urgently release funds and procure modern equipment to enhance counterinsurgency operations.
“We are pleading with the Federal Government to release funds so that military operations can resume fully now that the rainy season is ending,” Zulum said.
He also called on military authorities to show greater commitment and discipline in the fight against insurgency, stressing that the problem is not the number of soldiers but their level of dedication.
“What matters is not how many troops we have but how determined they are to repel the terrorists,” the governor declared.
Zulum warned that inconsistent or delayed operations were fueling the renewed wave of attacks across Borno State, adding that regular patrols and intelligence-led offensives were urgently needed to prevent further collapses.
“Sometimes, military operations were not conducted in Borno for long periods, and that gap has emboldened the insurgents,” he said.
He reassured residents of his administration’s commitment to restoring peace and urged communities not to panic or abandon their homes unnecessarily.
“You need not panic,” he told them. “There is no reason why a few Boko Haram fighters should overpower entire communities if there is adequate resistance.”
Reports gathered by DDM revealed that more than 5,000 residents fled into Cameroon after Boko Haram seized Kirawa on Thursday night, following similar attacks in other border towns, including Banki, which was overrun on September 19.
The insurgents, linked to Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified attacks on civilians and security forces in recent months, reigniting fears of a wider regional escalation.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that Boko Haram fighters released a video showing them torching a barracks and chanting victory slogans as flames engulfed the town.
The district head, Abdulrahman Abubakar, told Reuters he fled to Cameroon after his palace was burned down.
“Residents boarded trucks to seek refuge across the border, while others ran to Maiduguri,” he said.
Local sources confirmed that Kirawa is now largely deserted, with displaced residents seeking shelter in nearby communities such as Pulka.
A survivor, Dauda Hassan, told reporters that Boko Haram now controls the town completely, while Nigerian troops remain stationed in nearby garrisons.
The resurgence of attacks in Borno underscores the fragile security situation in the northeast and highlights the growing humanitarian crisis facing thousands displaced by the prolonged insurgency.
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