Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has pledged immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term resettlement measures for thousands of displaced residents in Monguno Local Government Area following renewed insecurity in parts of northern Borno State.
Zulum made the commitment on Sunday during a visit to internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in Monguno, where he assessed conditions in camps and met affected families amid fresh displacements linked to insurgent activity in the Lake Chad region.
The governor said the state government, in coordination with the Nigerian military, had finalised arrangements to deliver urgent relief materials and improve living conditions in the camps.
“We have examined the situation critically alongside the hierarchy of the Nigerian military, and it has been concluded that we shall provide immediate humanitarian support to these displaced communities, especially in the areas of water, shelter, and sanitation,” Zulum said.
He added that both medium- and long-term resettlement strategies were being developed to facilitate a sustainable return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities.
“Apart from this, we shall also ensure that medium and longer-term sustainable solutions are being adopted, which is acceptable to this community and their ancestral home,” he said.
The visit comes amid renewed security concerns in northern Borno, particularly in Marte, Monguno, Guzamala and Abadam local government areas, where sporadic attacks have continued to displace residents despite ongoing military operations against insurgent groups in the Lake Chad basin.
Borno State, the epicentre of Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency since 2009, has experienced repeated cycles of displacement and resettlement, with security gains often undermined by renewed attacks on remote communities and infrastructure.
Zulum, who has consistently advocated structured resettlement of displaced populations, disclosed that more than 50,000 returnees are currently residing in Marte Local Government Area.
He said government efforts were underway to facilitate the safe and coordinated return of additional displaced persons as part of a broader recovery framework.
“We will improve the living conditions of the displaced persons; we will not allow our citizens to endure such hardship without urgent government intervention,” he said.
The governor also urged residents to strengthen collaboration with security agencies through timely intelligence sharing, noting that sustainable peace depends on collective responsibility.
“Security is everybody’s business. Communities must continue to support security agencies with timely and useful information,” he said.
As part of immediate interventions, Zulum directed key officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Commissioners for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Internal Security, and the Chairman of Marte Local Government Area, to develop modalities for implementing the approved relief measures.
He also expressed sympathy with victims of recent attacks and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting communities affected by insurgency across the state.
During the visit, the governor inspected the Monguno Eye Hospital, where he commended health workers for maintaining services under difficult conditions and announced financial support to boost staff morale and service delivery.
Zulum also visited the Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Mairari, where he received a security briefing on operational developments in the area.
He was accompanied on the visit by Senator representing Borno North, Mohammed Monguno; Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan; member representing Marte, Monguno and Nganzai Federal Constituency, Bukar Talba; Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani; Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar; Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; and other senior government officials.
