Boko Haram Weakened, But North-East Communities Still Under Attack — Gov. Inuwa Yahaya

Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Inuwa Yahaya, has said that Boko Haram insurgents have been weakened but not completely defeated.

Yahaya made the statement during the 13th meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum held in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Saturday.

The governor warned that insecurity remains a major challenge in the North-East, noting that attacks on communities are still occurring while banditry and communal clashes have emerged as additional threats.

“Boko Haram has been weakened but not defeated, and we still see attacks on our communities. Banditry and communal clashes are emerging as new threats,” Yahaya said.

He also highlighted other challenges facing the region, including inadequate infrastructure, poor healthcare services, weak educational outcomes and the large number of displaced residents who are yet to return to their communities.

Yahaya identified the Mambilla hydropower project, regional railway connections and broadband expansion as some of the major projects that remain outstanding in the North-East.

He stressed that the region must also address its energy and humanitarian challenges through collective efforts by the six North-Eastern states.

The governor explained that the North-East Governors’ Forum, established in Gombe in March 2020, was created because issues such as insecurity, cross-border crime, infrastructure deficits and humanitarian crises could not be effectively tackled by individual states alone.

Yahaya, however, acknowledged progress made in infrastructure development, power generation, economic growth, human capital development and security.

He described the Kolmani oil exploration project as a major opportunity for the region, urging authorities to ensure that its benefits translate into employment, production and increased revenue.

The governor also called for the legal exploitation of the region’s mineral resources, warning that they should be used to improve the lives of residents rather than fund criminal activities.

He further urged his fellow governors to tackle the region’s high number of out-of-school children and poor health indicators.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for reflection and leadership transition, as the five founding governors from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe approach the end of their constitutionally permitted second terms ahead of the 2027 elections.