B/Haram resurgence: 3 LGAs seized in Borno, over 200 civilians killed – Ndume

The senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has disclosed that Boko Haram fighters in the North East have seized three local government areas in Borno State in renewed attacks. Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, also disclosed that residents […]

The senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has disclosed that Boko Haram fighters in the North East have seized three local government areas in Borno State in renewed attacks.

Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, also disclosed that residents of Borno State have experienced 252 attacks from November to date.

The lawmaker revealed that within the period, 100 soldiers and over 200 civilians were killed, and expressed worry over the resurgence of Boko Haram killings in the state despite efforts by the military to contain the crisis.

Ndume said the resurgence of hostilities in Borno compelled the three senators in the state, Governor Zulum and some members of the House of Representatives to meet with security chiefs towards finding a lasting solution to the killings.

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 He said, “We are worried because just from November last year to date, we experienced 252 attacks in Borno State. In the six months, over 100 soldiers were killed. Over 200 civilians were killed. 

“Even though the Nigerian Armed Forces are doing their best, they have in Borno State eliminated over 800 terrorists and the terrorists themselves have eliminated about 500 of themselves because of the fight between the ISWAP and the Boko Haram. 

“As I am speaking to you now, three of our local governments are under Boko Haram: Gudumbari, Marte and Abadam. That is the truth of it.”

 Ndume also said some of the military formations in Borno State have been displaced.

“But the Nigerian Army is trying their best despite these challenges that they are facing. Their formations have been displaced. So, army formations in Wajiruku, in Sabongari, all of them have been displaced.  In Monguno, in Ngala LGAs, they have been displaced,” he said. 

Ndume also suggested that President Tinubu should declare a state of emergency on security.

Speaking on what must be done, Senator Ndume asked the federal government not to allow the insurgents to retake the recovered communities in Borno, and to properly equip the military to do their job well.

He also called for adequate training and retraining of those on the battlefield, and recruitment of more personnel into the army and police, saying the existing personnel were “already overstretched.”