The Governor of Borno State, Nigeria, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has suggested that one of the ways to defeat Boko Haram terrorists in the state is preventing the insurgents from launching the first attack.
A statement quoted the governor as giving the suggestion at the combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters Chief of Army Staff Conference held in Maiduguri on Tuesday.


The statement, titled ‘Buratai: Borno Governor has always identified with Army’, said Zulum was the special guest of honour at the conference organised for senior officers of the Nigerian Army.
The governor urged the Nigerian Army to take the war to the insurgents, explaining that “continuous repelling” was not bringing the desired results.


“I urge the Nigerian Army to take the war to all hideouts of Boko Haram. The army should not wait and give the insurgents the opportunity of the first attack. You should as a matter of policy embark upon clinical clearance operation after successful execution of attacks,” Zulum added.
The governor also commended the effort of the Nigerian Military in the counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.


“Let me commend the renewed effort and vigour of the Nigerian Army in the fight against insurgency and urge you to sustain the momentum,” he noted.
Zulum assured the military of his continued commitment in the fight against insurgency, saying, “In line with my 10 cardinal agenda for good governance, Borno State Government shall maintain and sustain its role as key stakeholders in the activities and operations of Nigerian Army through the provision of all the needed support and morale-boosting mechanism to all security operatives involved in the fight against insurgency to end Boko Haram crisis.”


Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, commended the governor for “always identifying” with the Nigerian Army in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
“I thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for honouring our invitation and for always identifying with us on the collective effort to defeat terrorism and criminalities in the North-East,” Buratai said.