Babagana Umara Zulum CON, a Nigerian politician and academic born on August 26, 1969, has been the All Progressive Congress (APC) governor of Borno State since 2019. Babagana Umara Zulum is a Nigerian politician and professor who was elected governor of Borno State in 2019.

Boko Haram has attempted many unsuccessful assassinations attempts against Zulum. On July 29, 2020, Boko Haram insurgents assaulted his convoy on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. Three of the five people killed were officers of the law.

Babagana Umara Zulum Bio. Photo Credit: @profzulum: Instagram

Boko Haram attacked Zulum and his caravan again on September 26, 2020, near Lake Chad. At least 18 persons were murdered, according to reports, including 14 army and police officers as well as four civilians. After more bodies were discovered, the death toll was subsequently revised to 30.

Babagana Umara Zulum Profile Summary

Name: Babagana Umara Zulum
Date of Birth: August 26, 1969
Place of Birth: Mafa Local Government Area
Profession: Governor
Wife: Dr. Falmata Umara Zulum
Net Worth: $3 million

Babagana Umara Zulum Early Life

Zulum was born on August 25, 1969, in Borno State’s Mafa Local Government Area. Zulum graduated from the University of Maiduguri with a degree in Agriculture Engineering after attending Mafa Primary School from 1975 to 1980 and Government Secondary School, Monguno from 1980 to 1985. He later became a member of the Katsina State Polytechnic youth corps.

Career

Babagana began his career with the Borno State Civil Service in 1989 as an Assistant Technical Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture.

As a Senior Field Overseer when he first joined the Borno State Unified Local Government Service in 1990, Babagana later advanced to the position of Principal Water Engineer.

At the University of Maiduguri, he started his career as an assistant lecturer in 2000 and eventually advanced to the rank of professor. Babagana held the positions of Deputy Dean and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in 2010 and 2011.

2011 saw the appointment of Babagana Umara as Polytechnic’s rector. He kept giving lectures at the University of Maiduguri in the meantime.

He was appointed as Borno State’s Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement by Governor Kashim Shetima in 2015, and he served in that capacity until 2018.

He prevailed in Borno State’s All Progressives Congress governorship primary on October 1st, 2018. In the Borno State governor’s election of 2019 that was held on March 9, he won with 1175440 votes.

READ MORE: Senator Douye Diri Biography, Early Life and Career

Controversy

Zulum has been the target of numerous unsuccessful assassination attempts by Boko Haram.

On the Maiduguri-Damaturu route on July 29, 2020, Boko Haram terrorists attacked his convoy. Three of the five people that died were youngsters.

On September 26, 2020, Boko Haram attacked Zulum and his caravan close to Lake Chad. Reports state that at least 18 people were killed, including 14 troops and police officers and 4 civilians. The death toll increased to 30 as more bodies were found.

On the 29th, three days later, Zulum’s convoy came upon a donkey on the road and opened fire on it. Insurgents appeared from hiding as the donkey erupted and began fire on them. Although several insurgents were slain, no one in the convoy was injured.

On November 22, 2020, a Zulum Convoy travelling to Baga to meet with government officials was attacked. The governor was unharmed in this ambush, which killed seven soldiers and two civilians. His meeting had been cancelled.