Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has reaffirmed that the Boko Haram insurgency is not a religious war, stressing that the overwhelming majority of victims have been Muslims, despite the insurgents’ attacks on both faiths.
He made the declaration during a high-level consultative meeting on Monday with leaders of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Government House in Maiduguri. The gathering focused on strengthening cooperation between the state government and religious bodies as Borno intensifies its fight against insecurity and pushes for lasting peace.
Addressing the leaders, Zulum said it was time to dismantle all narratives that portray the crisis as a conflict between Muslims and Christians.
According to him,
“The Boko Haram conflict is not a religious crisis. It is an assault on our civilisation and humanity. The perpetrators have killed Muslims and Christians alike and destroyed mosques and churches with equal impunity.”
He noted that available data shows that Muslims have suffered the highest casualties in terms of deaths, displacements, and abductions.
Despite this, he said the pain of the crisis binds all communities together, demanding unity across faith lines.
Zulum also revealed that the state government has reconstructed 45 Christian worship centres destroyed during the insurgency as part of its massive rebuilding and resettlement efforts across affected local governments.
Highlighting Borno’s unique interfaith family structure, the governor said:
“It is common to find siblings and relatives practising different religions under one roof. We celebrate together, we grieve together. This is our strength and we must protect this bond.”
He stressed that reconstruction efforts are guided strictly by justice, equity, and inclusivity, not ethnicity or religion.
On security, Zulum assured religious leaders that his administration remains fully committed to protecting the rights and safety of all citizens, including the freedom to worship without fear.
He urged clerics to preach peace, unity, and tolerance from their pulpits and Minbars, and to openly reject any attempt to divide communities along religious lines.
Calling on the international community, Zulum appealed for stronger support in tackling root causes of insurgency, including poverty, hunger, and illiteracy. He also urged global partners to help strengthen the capabilities of Nigeria’s military and security agencies.
CAN, JNI Back Zulum
In his response, the Chairman of CAN in Borno State, Most Rev. John Bogna Bakeni, applauded the governor’s position, insisting that Nigeria’s challenges are internal and must be solved locally.
“Nobody can solve our problem from outside — not America, not the UK. If we implement what the governor said with sincerity, we will have a peaceful society,” he stated.
He urged religious and political leaders to uphold justice and fairness at all times, saying these are the foundations of trust and coexistence.
The State Director of Administration of JNI, represented by Malam Sa’adu Ngamdu, also commended Zulum’s proactive leadership and expressed readiness to continue partnering with the government and Christian leaders to promote peace.
With both faith blocs aligned and the state intensifying its reconstruction efforts, the push for genuine peace and unity in Borno appears stronger than ever.