Contract Racketeering: The Insider Factor Fueling Boko Haram Insurgency

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has revealed that contract racketeering is a significant factor in the persistence of the Boko Haram insurgency in the region. Zulum made this assertion while also accusing certain Nigerian politicians and members of the armed forces of acting as informants and collaborators for the insurgents.

According to Zulum, the state government is working to strengthen its intelligence network to identify and address such sabotage. “Let’s remove contractocracy,” he urged, adding that if this practice is stopped, the insurgency can be brought to an end in six months.

““We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities. What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly,” he said.

The governor emphasized that military force alone will not end insurgency and highlighted the importance of combining kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. He noted that while not all surrendered insurgents have fully reformed, most are positively contributing to peace.

Zulum also expressed concern over the military’s inadequate equipment for tackling insurgents and praised the military for their contributions to peace-building initiatives. He urged President Bola Tinubu to focus on improving ground-level intelligence and relying on expert military guidance, cautioning against politicising security issues.

The governor’s comments come as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding the Boko Haram insurgency and the need for a multifaceted approach to address the crisis. By addressing contract racketeering and strengthening intelligence networks, Zulum believes that significant progress can be made in bringing the insurgency to an end.