Zulum Hosts Regional Security Retreat, Calls for Unified Response to Sahel Terrorism
Zulum Hosts Regional Security Retreat, Calls for Unified Response to Sahel Terrorism
Zulum Hosts Regional Security Retreat, Calls for Unified Response to Sahel Terrorism
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has hosted a high-level regional security retreat in Maiduguri, bringing together representatives from Sahel countries and diplomatic missions to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and other security challenges confronting the region.
The retreat, held on Saturday at the Conference Hall of the Musa Usman Secretariat, further positioned Maiduguri as an important centre for regional dialogue on counter-terrorism and stabilisation efforts.
Governor Zulum, drawing from Borno State’s long experience with insurgency, called for a coordinated regional approach to tackling terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
He stressed that military operations remain critical but cannot, on their own, address the complex security and humanitarian challenges facing the Sahel.
According to the Governor, a sustainable solution requires a combination of military action and non-kinetic measures, including deradicalisation, rehabilitation, reintegration, humanitarian assistance, community engagement and economic development.
“While our armed forces continue their brave operations, we must enhance intelligence sharing, community-based border management, and joint stabilisation initiatives alongside the Multinational Joint Task Force,” Zulum said.
The Governor also emphasised the importance of stronger intelligence sharing and coordinated border management among neighbouring countries, noting that terrorist networks exploit gaps between national borders and security systems.
Nigeria Calls for Stronger Regional Cooperation
Speaking at the retreat, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Sola Enikanolaiye, called for deeper cooperation among countries in the Sahel to confront terrorism and address the underlying causes of insecurity.
He urged governments across the region to complement security operations with measures aimed at tackling the social and economic conditions that enable extremist groups to recruit and operate.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar, also highlighted the strong historical, cultural and economic ties between Nigeria and the Sahel, stressing that stability across the region remains directly connected to Nigeria’s national security and economic prosperity.
Chad Ambassador Seeks Collective Security Response
The Ambassador of Chad to Nigeria, Brah Mahamat, called for a collective commitment among countries in the region, regardless of their membership of different regional organisations.
He warned that terrorist groups do not recognise political or institutional boundaries and can exploit gaps in cooperation between neighbouring countries.
“Although we belong to different institutional groupings, this should in no way impede our common security,” the Ambassador said, stressing the need for countries to overcome institutional differences and strengthen collective action against cross-border terrorism.
The Maiduguri retreat highlighted the growing recognition that defeating terrorism in the Sahel requires regional solidarity, intelligence cooperation, effective border management, military coordination and sustained investment in stabilisation and development.
For Borno State, which has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts for more than a decade, the engagement also provided an opportunity to draw from its experience while strengthening partnerships with neighbouring countries and international stakeholders.
Zulum Hosts Regional Security Retreat, Calls for Unified Response to Sahel Terrorism
