BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, OCTOBER 30, 2025 | 09:50 PM

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has said that insurgency in the state has reduced by 90 percent.

He noted that more than 300,000 insurgents and their families have surrendered in the past four years.

He stated this on Monday when he received the new Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Egloff, at the Government House in Maiduguri.

He said the security situation in Borno has greatly improved, allowing many displaced communities to return to farming and rebuild their lives.

'Borno State is now largely peaceful. Notwithstanding intermittent attacks in some areas, most resettled communities have been able to cultivate their farmlands, and their means of livelihood have significantly improved,' Gov. Zulum said.

The governor thanked the Swiss government for its support during the 2024 floods that affected Maiduguri and nearby local governments.

'On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to extend our appreciation to the Swiss government for its intervention through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund for emergencies in the North East and the 2024 flood disaster,' he said.

He urged Switzerland to expand its partnership with Borno to support victims of insurgency and strengthen peace-building programs.

'We look forward to working with you to see how funding can be increased in some critical areas, especially in supporting the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency, and how we might collaborate in the field of mediation,' Gov. Zulum added.

He also mentioned the 'Borno Model,' an initiative for the deradicalization and reintegration of repentant insurgents.

He said more international partnerships would help sustain the program and advance post-conflict recovery.

Ambassador Egloff, in his remarks, said Borno was the first state he visited since assuming office and commended Zulum’s leadership style.

'The leadership you provide is extremely important. Your style of governance, with its proximity to the citizens, is very much in line with European models,' Egloff said.

Ambassador Egloff was accompanied by the senior program officer at the Swiss Embassy, Aline Burki, and senior program advisor, Ahmed Abdullahi.