BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, AUGUST 28, 2025 | 07:20 PM

Borno State’s experience in tackling insurgency took centre stage at the maiden African Defence Chiefs Summit in Abuja.

At the event, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum’s efforts to support the military and foster regional cooperation were praised as a model for addressing Africa’s evolving security challenges.

The summit, held from 25 to 27 August 2025 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Hall, Abuja, brought together Africa’s defence chiefs, policymakers and security experts under the theme: 'Combatting Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.'

At a panel session on “Strategic Defence Collaboration,” chaired by Nigeria’s former UN Permanent Representative, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Borno’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, urged African leaders to adopt a “whole-of-society” approach in building a continental defence doctrine.

He stressed that communities, civil society, and sub-national governments must be included as frontline actors in shaping security responses.

'Given the transnational and transactional nature of terrorism, African countries have no option but to forge a robust platform for collective security,' Prof. Tar argued, adding that the summit should evolve into a standing framework for intelligence sharing, joint doctrine development, and coordinated countermeasures.

Delegates commended Borno’s role in strengthening the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and fostering cross-border collaboration through the Northeast Governors Forum and the Lake Chad Governors Forum.

These initiatives, championed by Governor Zulum, were highlighted as crucial in mobilising local and regional support for the counter-terrorism campaign across the Lake Chad Basin.

By spotlighting Borno’s sub-national leadership in the fight against insurgency, the summit reinforced the state’s emergence as not only a frontline battleground against terrorism, but also a knowledge hub for shaping Africa’s collective security architecture.