Borno Governor Zulum Prohibits Petrol Sales in Bama LGA to Combat Insecurity

 Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum ordered an immediate ban on petrol sales at filling stations across Bama Local Government Area, including Bama town and Banki, citing heightened insecurity linked to Boko Haram insurgency. 

The directive, announced in Maiduguri, aims to restrict the militants’ access to fuel, which intelligence reports indicate is used to power vehicles and generators for attacks, with 15% of recent ambushes involving stolen petrol. Exemptions were granted for government and security vehicles, subject to strict verification, while residents were urged to report suspicious fuel transactions to authorities.

Bama LGA, near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, has faced resurgent Boko Haram activity, with 12 attacks in 2024 killing 45 civilians, per security data. The ban follows a March 2025 incident where insurgents looted 2,000 liters of petrol from a raided station, fueling a week-long offensive. Zulum’s administration, which has resettled 30,000 displaced persons in Bama since 2022, also suspended bulk fuel transport to rural areas, where 60% of filling stations lack security oversight. The measure aligns with similar restrictions in Yobe and Adamawa, reducing insurgent mobility by 25% in 2024.

The ban, enforced by a joint task force of 500 soldiers and police, has sparked concerns over economic impacts, as Bama’s 200,000 residents rely on petrol for 80% of transport and small businesses. Zulum pledged ₦500 million in relief, including food and solar-powered generators, to mitigate hardship. Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts, costing $2 billion annually, face challenges from 10% fuel smuggling rates to militant groups. The ban, set for review in June 2025, underscores Borno’s delicate balance between security and livelihoods, with 70% of residents supporting anti-terror measures despite disruptions.