FINTIRI WARNS BOKO HARAM, ISWAP REMAIN MAJOR THREATS

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has warned that Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province remain serious security threats in the region, calling on security chiefs to intensify efforts to tackle insurgency.

Fintiri gave the warning on Thursday while declaring open a two-day meeting of federal and state security administrators in Yola. He was represented at the event by his deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta.

The governor said that although military operations had weakened the insurgents’ conventional capabilities, the groups continued to exploit rural areas, cross-border weaknesses and unconventional tactics to attack vulnerable targets.

He cautioned security officials against declaring victory too early, stressing the need to address emerging threats that could undermine the region’s social and economic development.

Fintiri also noted that insecurity was not only a military challenge but required grassroots engagement, social justice and inclusive governance. He added that extremist groups were increasingly using digital platforms to spread misinformation and recruit vulnerable young people.

The governor urged the Federal Government to modernise Nigeria’s international borders through advanced surveillance technology, drone monitoring, joint patrols and improved border facilities to curb illegal migration, arms trafficking and smuggling.

He also called for increased funding for security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services and Customs, to improve their equipment, operational capacity and welfare.

Fintiri stressed the need for stronger cooperation among security agencies, saying rivalry and poor coordination between intelligence units and field teams could undermine efforts to defeat insurgents.

He challenged security administrators to move beyond discussions and develop practical strategies to address security challenges across the North-East and other parts of the country.

The governor also proposed unified digital systems for tracking freight and transit movements across states and major transport routes to detect suspicious cargo, reduce illegal checkpoints and improve trade security.

As part of efforts to strengthen security in Adamawa, Fintiri donated 300 motorcycles and 16 security vehicles to support policing across the state’s 15 chiefdoms and 21 local government areas.

The meeting was attended by security administrators from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. However, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was absent.