- Senator Mohammed Ndume urged President Tinubu to hire military contractors to combat Boko Haram, citing insufficient military equipment for effective operations
- Ndume’s call follows a recent attack in Ngoshe, where Boko Haram killed six farmers and kidnapped five others, highlighting ongoing insecurity
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider hiring military contractors to eliminate Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
While praising the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) ‘s efforts, Ndume emphasized that they lack the equipment necessary to fully defeat the remaining terrorists.
“Governments worldwide use military contractors in specific operations,” Ndume said. He suggested that these contractors, working alongside the military and CJTF, could swiftly wipe out Boko Haram.
He also mentioned their potential use in the fight against bandits in the North West.
Ndume proposed this as a short-term solution, stating that the federal government could focus on recruiting up to a million young Nigerians into the military over time. For now, he believes hiring contractors is crucial.
His call followed a recent Boko Haram attack in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, where six farmers were killed, and five others, including women, were kidnapped.
Filibus Yakubu, a local councillor, confirmed the attack and noted that many villagers were still missing. He added that despite their efforts, the military and CJTF could not repel the attackers, and among the casualties was a CJTF commander, Jubril Dada Zarana.
The attack came weeks after another Boko Haram bombing, which claimed the lives of several civilians and injured many more. According to Yakubu, the terrorists targeted farmers while they were working in their fields.
He said, “The Army and CJTF did their best, but they couldn’t hold the attackers for long.”
Three women released by Boko Haram provided information on the recent events. The released captives said that the terrorists were still holding other victims. On Independence Day, a time typically associated with celebration, Yakubu described the situation as one of “sorrow, despair, and helplessness.”
He expressed the dire conditions in Ngoshe and surrounding villages, where residents face a lack of essential supplies. Despite this, they remain in their homeland, bound by their deep love for the region. Local farming, their primary means of survival, has become increasingly dangerous due to Boko Haram’s activities.
Yakubu concluded by appealing for aid, saying, “Only God can save the people of Ngoshe and nearby villages like Gava, Amuda, Chinene, and others.”