The Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, has explained why the state continues to experience terrorist attacks and kidnappings despite sustained military operations against insurgent groups.

Speaking on Channels TV MorningBrief, Tar described Borno as the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, noting that the state’s long history with terrorism has made it particularly susceptible to attacks by armed groups.

According to him, Boko Haram has evolved significantly from its original form. While the insurgency initially emerged from the ideological beliefs of a small group of individuals, he said it has since transformed into a profit-driven enterprise sustained by criminal activities.

“The Boko Haram insurgency started as a result of the ideological mindset of a few individuals who started the campaign, but those individuals have gone. The Boko Haram insurgency has since transmuted into a big business,” Tar said.

He explained that kidnappings have become one of the key tactics used by terrorists to generate revenue through hostage negotiations and ransom demands.

“Borno is the epicentre of the Boko Haram terrorism, and the terrorists carry out these kidnappings in order to do hostage negotiation,” he stated.

The commissioner, however, stressed that kidnapping is no longer a challenge limited to Borno, describing it as a nationwide security concern. He noted that while the problem affects many parts of Nigeria, Borno remains one of the areas most impacted due to its history with insurgency.

Tar’s remarks come amid reports of a successful military operation that led to the rescue of 360 abductees from terrorist enclaves in the state.

While commending security forces for the operation, he disclosed that two children lost their lives during the rescue mission.

“Sadly, we lost two children during the operation; otherwise, it was a very successful operation,” he said.

He added that authorities are currently conducting health and psychological assessments on the rescued victims to aid their recovery and reintegration. (The Sun)