Military lacks weapons to end banditry, terrorism — Ndume

Military lacks weapons to end banditry, terrorism — Ndume

 

Former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has declared that the Nigerian military lacks the superior weapons to end terrorism and banditry.

He also dismissed reports circulating on social media that his convoy was ambushed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

Ndume, who is representing Southern Borno and Gwoza senatorial district in the Senate, spoke at his Maiduguri home after returning from a condolence visit to families of those recently killed by terrorists in Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya, and other communities in the Gwoza Local Government Area.

He said, “On a serious note, our military forces and the state government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum are doing well in tackling issues related to Boko Haram killings.

“But both have limitations. For instance, the Federal Government should equip our military forces, and arm and motivate them. I also spoke with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and he assured me that they will reinforce additional forces in Gwoza to enable farmers to harvest their hard-earned crops.

“The military is determined and committed to ending Boko Haram’s madness, but this cannot be possible if they are not fully equipped, armed, trained, and motivated.”

According to him, the Kirawa road ambush targeted a Cameroonian Bureau De Change/businessman (Alhaji Kadi), who was killed alongside an unidentified woman, while others sustaining injuries.

Ndume said, “As Senator representing Southern Borno and Gwoza inclusive, I had planned earlier to go to Ngoshe and Kirawa for condolence.

“I could only go to Ngoshe because the road to Kirawa was not accessible then. So, when we left yesterday, as I told you, the Theatre Commander and the GOC 7 Division directed the Brigade Commander in Gwoza, who led the es@cort team personally.

“It has been a long time since I had such a heavy military escort from Maiduguri to Ngoshe. As we were going to Ngoshe, we got to a village called Wizza, where there is a junction to Kirawa. “Unfortunately or fortunately, we received information that the Cameroonian soldiers in Kirawa were ambushed by terrorists, but the target was not me, rather the person they killed, including an unidentified woman. Although I was told that there were other passengers who were victims of the ambush, as Tuesday was a market day in Kirawa.

“I strongly suspect that some individuals are colluding with Boko Haram, passing information to the terrorists. However, the Nigerian Army sent a reinforcement team that cleared the entire area, despite the detonated bombs planted by the terrorists damaging two military patrol vehicles.”