Boko Haram weakened but not defeated — Gov Inuwa Yahaya

Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has said Boko Haram insurgents have been weakened but not defeated, warning that insecurity remains a major challenge in the North-East despite progress recorded in the region.

Yahaya, who chairs the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), spoke at the forum’s 13th meeting in Maiduguri on Saturday.

He said attacks on communities continued, while banditry and communal clashes had emerged as additional security threats, leaving many displaced residents unable to return to their homes.

“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,” the governor said.

Yahaya noted that the North-East still faced major development gaps, including unrealised infrastructure projects, inadequate healthcare and poor educational outcomes.

He listed the Mambilla hydropower project, regional railway connections and broadband expansion among key projects yet to be delivered, adding that the region must address its energy and humanitarian challenges.

Reflecting on the North-East Governors’ Forum, established in Gombe in March 2020, Yahaya said the coalition was formed because the challenges confronting the region required collective action.

He said insecurity, cross-border crime, infrastructure deficits and humanitarian concerns could not be effectively addressed by individual states acting alone.

The governor, however, acknowledged progress in infrastructure, power generation, economic development, human capital and security.

He described the Kolmani exploration project as a significant opportunity but said its benefits must be reflected in production, employment and revenue.

Yahaya also urged governors to ensure that the region’s mineral resources were legally exploited and used to improve residents’ lives, rather than finance criminal activities.

He expressed concern over the number of out-of-school children and weak health indicators, urging his colleagues to confront the region’s persistent challenges.

The meeting was considered a key 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.