BORNO, Nigeria — Amid the smoldering ruins of her home in Borno state, a mother clutches a faded photograph of her missing children. The brutal Boko Haram attack that destroyed her village left more than ashes — it left a haunting suspicion.
She fears that those entrusted to protect her people have instead betrayed them from within.
This fear echoes a disturbing narrative that has shadowed Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram for over a decade: that the terror group’s deadly campaigns are abetted by insiders embedded within the government and military.
In 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan stunned the nation when he publicly revealed that Boko Haram had sympathizers in the highest corridors of power.
Speaking in Abuja, Jonathan said, “We have people who are sympathetic to Boko Haram in the executive, in the legislature, and even in the judiciary.”
This rare admission of internal sabotage sent shockwaves across Nigeria, sparking demands for accountability. Yet, despite public outcry, no significant arrests or purges followed.
For many Nigerians, that silence was a bitter confirmation that Boko Haram’s reach extended far beyond the battlefield. Instead of being rooted out, those suspected of collusion remained untouched, enabling the insurgency to grow more aggressive and audacious.
The consequences of this internal betrayal are painfully clear. The 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, which shocked the world, remains one of the starkest symbols of the government’s failure to protect its citizens.
Nearly 300 girls were abducted from a school dormitory in Borno, a tragedy that exposed glaring security gaps and alleged insider complicity.
Fast forward to 2025, and Borno Governor Babagana Zulum is sounding a similar alarm. In recent remarks, he highlighted ongoing infiltration by Boko Haram sympathizers within military ranks and political circles.
“We are still battling enemies who are disguised as our own,” Zulum said, stressing that insider informants continue to undermine counterterrorism efforts, allowing Boko Haram to strike with deadly efficiency.
The impact of these betrayals is devastating. Earlier this year, Boko Haram fighters swiftly overran the Marte military base, forcing the displacement of 20,000 people and worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
According to the United Nations, more than two million people remain displaced in the Lake Chad region, struggling to survive amid ongoing violence and insecurity.
Experts warn that without addressing this internal sabotage, Nigeria’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram will remain futile.
“The insurgency thrives not just because of external support, but because it benefits from complicity inside the system,” said a security analyst who asked to remain anonymous. “This internal rot must be exposed and eradicated if lasting peace is to be achieved.”
For families like the mother in Borno, hope is dimmed by a painful reality — that the very government meant to shield them may be their greatest threat. As the nation continues its battle against Boko Haram, the question remains: can Nigeria confront its dirty secret of betrayal before more lives are lost?
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
