Bulama speaking at the conference in Maiduguri
Mr Babagana Bulama, the Adamawa State Director of Department of State Security (DSS) said available intelligence has shown that the splinter of Boko Haram known as Islamic State of Africa Province (ISWAP) is training suicide bombers.
Bulama made this known on Thursday in Maiduguri while speaking as the Chairman of the 2022 1st Zonal Quaterly Conference of State Directors of Security of North-Eastern States.
Bulama said the group was training suicide bombers to carry out attacks on security agencies and vulnerable communities.
“Although, attacks by the insurgents in parts of the zone recently have reduced owing to counter terrorism operations by security forces, available intelligence has indicated that ISWAP are training suicide bombers with a view to carryout deadly attacks on security agencies and vulnerable communities.
“Most worrisome, is recent intelligence on the convergence of elements of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), in the Lake Chad area, within Nigerian territory.
“These terrorists who fled Mali following increased military pressure from Russian mercenaries, see the Lake Chad area as safe haven and apparently, have come to support ISWAP to continue its terrorists activities.
“Furthermore, kidnappers and bandits have persistently exploited the vast ungoverned spaces (mountains and forests) in the zone as hideouts from where they carry out their nefarious activities.
“Investigations indicated that, some of these criminal elements came from the North West and North Central zones where they were dislodged by security forces,” Bulama added.
While nothing that farmers/herders conflicts has subsided due to completion of harvest by farmers, Bulama however pointed out that there are still some threats of confrontations between irrigation farmers and some herders in riverine communities, particularly in Adamawa and Taraba states due to struggle for water and pasture.
He also highlighted collaboration between Ambazonian rebels in neighbouring Cameroon and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) among others that could unsettle relative peace in border communities Adamawa and Taraba states.
Bulama reiterated the commitment of DSS in ensuring national security inline with its statutory mandate, adding that ensuring national security also requires teamwork and inter agency collaboration.
He assured that DSS commands in North-East would continue to sustain harmonious working relationship with all relevant stakeholders in national security management.
Speaking at the occassion, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Hussaini Marte, said the state government placed top priority on security and would continue to support and collaborate with security agencies to succeed in thier assigned tasks.
The Joint Theatre Commander, “Operation Hadin Kai”, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa and other representatives of security agencies that graced the occassion, lauded the effective roles being played by DSS towards succeeful operations in the fight against insurgency and other crimes in north east and the nation is general.
They assured thier commitment to continue to work in synergy with DSS for more results.
