Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has raised alarm over the technological advantage insurgents have over Nigerian military forces, revealing that soldiers lack the necessary equipment to effectively combat terrorism in the North.

Speaking during an interview on News Central TV's programme 'One-on-one with Zulum', the governor emphasized the urgent need for better military hardware, particularly drones, to tackle the insurgency that has plagued the region for years.

"The Army doesn't have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgents and I want to also inform you that, right now, the insurgents are using technology to fight the soldiers on ground," Zulum stated.

The governor disclosed that he recently met with the Chief of Army Staff, who indicated that 32 drones, each costing approximately $5.5 million, would be needed to effectively combat the insurgency.

"Why can't we pull resources together to buy these drones and prioritize insecurity?" Zulum questioned, calling for a united approach from both federal and state governments.

The governor also advocated for direct government-to-government procurement of military equipment to ensure value for money and eliminate contractor inefficiencies.

"Another issue we shall look into is that of procurement of military equipment, both hardware and software. Let's deal directly, government to government, so that we can get value for money, otherwise most of the contractors won't buy the equipment if you give them money," he explained.

Zulum expressed confidence that with proper coordination and resource allocation, the insurgency could be defeated within six months. He emphasized the importance of depoliticizing security matters and urged the Federal Government to heed the advice of stakeholders in affected regions.

"If we want to do right, we can put ourselves together and this madness will end within six months. Federal and state governments must come together so that we prioritize security, we need not to politicize insecurity, the Federal Government needs to listen to us," the governor concluded.

This call comes amid ongoing security challenges in Northern Nigeria, where various insurgent groups continue to pose significant threats to civilian populations and military personnel alike.