Borno Violence: Ndume Urges Tinubu to Address Security Crisis

Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to turn his security emergency declaration into tangible action, particularly in light of the recent Boko Haram attacks in Ngoshe, Borno State.

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Ndume, who represents Borno South, made this appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, calling on the President to instruct security forces to conduct regular clearance operations in areas such as Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, and Mandara mountains, which are known to be insurgent strongholds.

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The Senator expressed disappointment over the lack of regular updates on efforts to combat banditry and insurgency, asserting that Nigerians have a right to hear directly from the President on these matters.

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According to Ndume, the government must back up its emergency declaration with coordinated and sustained attacks on insurgent targets, especially in the North East, and carry out consistent clearance operations in Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, and the Mandara mountains.

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Ndume commended the military for their intervention in Ngoshe, although he noted that it came late, and reiterated his call for increased budget allocations to security agencies to facilitate the procurement of arms and ammunition.

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He voiced concerns over the budgetary provisions for the military, stating that the Nigerian Army's budget is inadequate, and suggested that even if the purchase of attack helicopters is not feasible, hiring them for deployment to high-risk areas should be considered.

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Ndume urged President Tinubu to provide regular briefings to Nigerians on his administration's efforts to address banditry and insurgency, emphasizing that citizens want to hear from him regularly.

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Last week, Boko Haram, in collaboration with the Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP), launched coordinated attacks on the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, targeting the Army's 82 Division Task Force Battalion and leaving a trail of death and destruction.