“You Are Naive” – Zulum Slams Tinubu’s Information Minister After Deadly Boko Haram Attack on Maiduguri-Damboa Road

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has strongly criticised Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, following a deadly attack attributed to Boko Haram insurgents on the Maiduguri-Damboa road. The governor described the minister as “naive” regarding the country’s security realities after an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists claimed eight lives and left over 20 people injured on Saturday.

The explosion, which occurred on a highway connecting Maiduguri, the state capital, to Damboa, underscores the persistent threat Boko Haram continues to pose in the region. Speaking shortly after visiting the scene of the attack, Zulum condemned the minister’s recent public remarks, saying, “I believe the Minister of Information is naive about what is happening in the country. He doesn’t know what is ongoing in the country.”

Zulum urged both the Nigerian military and affected communities to remain resilient in the face of continued threats, emphasizing the need for vigilance and coordinated action. “There’s no way people will travel a distance of 700 kilometers to go to Damboa. Ordinarily, they come here to Damboa—it’s only about 100 kilometers,” he said, calling for enhanced military presence to secure the area.

Despite the tragedy, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to keeping the Maiduguri-Damboa road open and secure. “We shall ensure that travel from Maiduguri to Damboa will continue. This will not deter us,” he stated, adding that joint operations with the military and other security agencies would be strengthened to prevent further incidents.

Zulum also revealed that he had met with Nigeria’s service chiefs in Abuja—including the Chiefs of Army, Naval, and Air Staff—who reassured him of ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorist threats in the region. “We are so happy with the response that we had from the service chiefs,” he said.

He expressed confidence that Borno would not return to the dark days of widespread insurgent control, pledging to bolster local security initiatives and support for civilian defense groups like vigilantes and hunters. “Insha Allah, under my watch, Boko Haram will not have the capacity to do what they did before,” he vowed.

The governor concluded by reaffirming his commitment to working with the federal government and security forces, promising to meet the expectations of the people by addressing the state’s security challenges head-on.

Online, the attack drew swift reactions from locals. A Facebook user, Ibn Maigana, mourned the loss of life and described the road to Damboa as one of the most dangerous in the country. “They planted explosives that claimed the lives of eight innocent individuals. This further justifies the call for intensification of security measures,” he wrote.

Another user on X, @OffucialAzzaki, also confirmed the incident, saying, “A bomb blast has just occurred along Damboa road to Maiduguri. Sadly, 8 lives were lost, and several others have been taken to the hospital with injuries. Please pray for the victims.”