Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has made shocking allegations that some military officers and politicians are working as informants and collaborators for Boko Haram terrorists, undermining counter-insurgency efforts in the region.

Speaking during an interview on News Central's Breakfast Central, Governor Zulum vowed to deal "ruthlessly" with saboteurs who are frustrating his administration's efforts to combat the insurgency that has plagued the state for over a decade.

"We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian Armed Forces, within the politicians, and within the communities," Zulum stated. "What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly."

The governor emphasized the need to address what he termed "contractocracy" and expressed confidence that with proper measures, the insurgency could be significantly reduced within six months. He cautioned against politicizing security issues in the state.

Zulum also highlighted that military action alone would not be sufficient to end the insurgency. "Insurgency will never end with kinetic measures alone, we must ensure that the non-kinetic measures are also put in place. What I mean by non-kinetic measures are socio-political and economic dimensions of the crisis," he explained.

The governor expressed concerns about the sustainability of rehabilitation efforts for former insurgents, noting that among the approximately 300,000 repentant fighters, there remains a possibility that some might return to terrorism.

This is not the first time Governor Zulum has raised alarms about the insurgency. In previous statements, he had warned the federal government about the potential fall of Marte to Boko Haram insurgents and highlighted the technological advantage that insurgents have over Nigerian military forces that lack adequate equipment.

The Borno State government has taken several measures to address security challenges, including the recent closure of a 10-year-old IDP camp and signing orders banning indiscriminate tree felling, which has been linked to environmental degradation and security concerns.

The northeastern state continues to face security challenges, with a recent roadside bomb blast on the Maiduguri-Damboa highway resulting in three deaths and multiple injuries, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by insurgents in the region.