By Ademola Adekusibe
September 25, 2025
Maiduguri, Borno State – The city was plunged into grief and outrage on Thursday after the lifeless bodies of two children belonging to Zannah Jaridama Bornoye, a known supporter of Governor Babagana Zulum, and that of a neighbour were discovered. The shocking incident occurred just days after Jaridama publicly criticized alleged cabals and politicians within the state government.
Jaridama, who had openly accused some top government figures of hypocrisy and self-enrichment, warned in a viral video that certain individuals around the governor feigned loyalty while using government contracts and resources for personal gain, showing little commitment to the people or the governor’s vision.
“While Governor Zulum bears the weight of governance and development projects, some so-called loyalists are only after contracts, luxury, and fat pockets,” Jaridama said.
He further lamented, “They dress well to follow him publicly, but when it comes to defending his administration, they vanish. When it is weddings, school fees, or house projects, it is Zulum who pays. What value do they bring? They claim loyalty but undermine the governor and the people simultaneously.”
Jaridama went on to allege that some individuals who entered government with a single vehicle had since accumulated immense wealth, yet refused to invest even modestly in support of Zulum’s initiatives. He accused them of secretly funding campaigns and youths to attack the governor’s reputation while remaining in his political party, the APC.
“Some of them come into the administration pretending to be die-hard loyalists, but underground, they are fighting him. When it is a personal milestone like a wedding or naming ceremony, it is Zulum who covers the cost,” Jaridama wrote on Facebook, daring anyone implicated to take legal action, promising to name names publicly.
Tragically, less than 24 hours after his outspoken remarks, Jaridama’s children—14-year-old Mama dressed in pink and 28-month-old Anwar in green shadda—went missing while playing outside their home. In a desperate social media post, Jaridama pleaded for prayers and assistance, offering himself in exchange for the safety of his children.
“It is me they are after, not my children. Please, for God’s sake, spare their lives. I am ready to give myself up, even to death, so that these innocent children can live,” he posted.
Despite his pleas, the children were later found dead in the boot of a vehicle in the early hours of Thursday, sending shockwaves across Maiduguri and prompting widespread calls for urgent investigation into the killings.
The incident has left residents questioning the security situation in Borno State and the safety of individuals who speak out against political elites.
