By Charles Maduka
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has officially banned the sale and consumption of alcohol across the state as part of a renewed effort to curb crime and antisocial behaviour.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in Maiduguri during the inauguration of a newly reconstituted committee tasked with tackling illegal hotels, brothels, shanties, and criminal hideouts in the state capital and its surrounding areas.
Governor Zulum stated that the ban is in response to growing security concerns linked to alcohol-related activities, including cult clashes, prostitution, drug abuse, armed robbery, and thuggery, which he said have resulted in loss of lives and property.
The governor said the committee has been re-empowered to carry out its task with full backing from a combined team of military personnel, police officers, civil defence operatives, and members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF). He emphasised that this collective approach is necessary for rooting out entrenched criminality.
Zulum also blamed some members of the country’s security agencies—both serving and dismissed—for allegedly encouraging illegal behaviour among civilians, which he said contributes to radicalism, prostitution, and rising insecurity.
“I am glad the army, police, and other agencies are represented here. Let me be clear—many of these vices are perpetrated by dismissed or even serving military and security officers, alongside some civilians,” Zulum said. “There must be no sacred cow. If we are to eliminate insurgency, terrorism, and other criminal activities in Maiduguri and the state, everyone must be held accountable.”
The governor’s move has sparked discussions on the balance between public order and personal freedoms, especially in a state already affected by over a decade of insurgency.
Leave a Reply