Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has banned the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Maiduguri and its surrounding areas, citing a disturbing rise in criminal activities and antisocial behavior.
The decision was announced at the inauguration of a reconstituted committee tasked with eradicating illegal establishments and combating societal vices.
Governor Zulum, who was speaking at the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri, expressed deep concern over the growing influence of current and former security personnel in promoting criminality, radicalism, prostitution, and drug abuse.
“The committee is in charge of the revocation of illegal hotels, brothels, shanties, and criminal hideouts and curbing the menace of antisocial vices. I am happy to know that army officers are here, especially the military, police, and others, because most of these activities were committed by whom? Some of them are dismissed army officers, dismissed security officers, current army officers, men and officers, and civilians,” the Governor said.
“So, there should be no sacred cow in this matter if we want the Maiduguri metropolis and indeed the state to get rid of insurgency, terrorism, and other sorts of criminalities.”
He warned that such activities have significantly contributed to the security challenges plaguing the state, particularly by encouraging behaviors that fuel terrorism and social instability.
“Some ex and serving members of the military and other security outfits have sadly become part of the problem rather than the solution,” he complained.
“They have influenced our youths toward criminal tendencies and antisocial behavior, thereby threatening the fragile peace we have worked hard to restore.”
The governor also highlighted how the proliferation of illegal brothels, hotels, shanties, and other criminal hideouts has escalated cult-related clashes, thuggery, and theft, often resulting in injuries, deaths, and loss of property.
To ensure a comprehensive and effective approach, Governor Zulum co-opted members of the Nigerian Army, Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) into the committee. Their mandate is to enforce the alcohol ban and dismantle structures that harbor or promote criminal behavior.
“The time has come to purge our communities of destructive influences,” he affirmed. “We are determined to secure the future of our youth and restore order across the state,” he added.
The committee will immediately begin operations across Maiduguri metropolis and surrounding localities, signaling a new phase in the government’s fight against insecurity and moral degradation.
Once a thriving part of Nigeria’s northeast, Borno has become synonymous with violence, displacement, and despair.
More than a decade after insurgency erupted, the state remains ensnared in a web of terrorism, banditry, and communal tensions that have defied resolution despite repeated efforts by government to stabilise the situation.
About four months ago, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the deaths of six soldiers following a raid by the Boko Haram group on a military base in Borno State.
These groups have carried out numerous attacks, including bombings, kidnappings and raid on villages, which have led to widespread displacement and loss of life.
The insurgency, which began in 2009, has not only destabilised the region but also exacerbated existing socio-economic issues, plunging many communities into poverty and despair.
The effect of the spate of insecurity is profound, impacting every aspect of life in the region. Thousands of Schools have been destroyed, and many children have been unable to access education due to threat of violence. Healthcare services have also been severely disrupted, with many clinics and hospitals either damaged or abandoned.
RN
