Former Borno govermor gives recipe for ending Boko Haram insurgency

Sheriff

Former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has emphasised the need for stronger regional collaboration to bring a permanent end to the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

Speaking on Channels Television programme on Monday, Sheriff argued that without solid diplomatic and operational ties with neighbouring countries, the fight against terrorism in the northeast may never be fully resolved.

“What should be done is that we have to have proper relationship with Cameroon, Chad and Niger,” Sheriff stated during the interview.

According to him, Boko Haram has managed to survive and operate for over a decade largely because of its ability to exploit porous borders and escape into neighbouring countries whenever pressure mounts in Nigeria.

Sheriff, who governed Borno at the early stages of the insurgency, pointed out that the Lake Chad Basin remains a critical operational zone for terrorist groups.

He said any effort that isolates Nigeria from her neighbours would only lead to a temporary fix, rather than a long-term solution.

“Boko Haram is not a Nigerian problem alone. It is a regional threat. And until we begin to treat it as such, the cycle of attacks and counterattacks will continue,” he warned.

Sheriff also advised that collaboration should not be limited to military cooperation alone, but should include intelligence sharing, coordinated border patrols, joint military exercises, and economic support for communities most vulnerable to radicalisation.

Security analysts have long echoed similar sentiments, saying Boko Haram’s resilience is due in part to safe havens in ungoverned spaces across borders, where fighters regroup and plan fresh attacks.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), comprising troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Benin, has carried out joint operations in the region, but coordination and political will remain issues of concern.

Sheriff’s comments come at a time when northern states, especially Borno and Yobe, are experiencing relative calm after years of brutal attacks.

However, pockets of violence still persist, raising fears that the insurgents may be regrouping.

Observers say that with Nigeria’s new push for sub-regional integration and cross-border security, Sheriff’s call for deeper cooperation may be timely and necessary.

“If we want to stop them—and stop them permanently,” Sheriff reiterated, “we must look beyond our borders and deal with the problem together.”