By John Alechenu, Abuja
Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has called on the federal government to fully equip the Nigerian Army to tackle insurgency and banditry, warning that Borno State and the wider Northeast risk falling to terrorist groups.
Ndume made the appeal following a visit to Ngoshe and Pulka in Borno, alongside Governor Babagana Zulum, areas recently attacked by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists. The coordinated attacks resulted in the deaths of soldiers and civilians, and the abduction of women and children.
“The military was initially overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the terrorist groups,” Ndume said, urging the government to provide sophisticated arms and ammunition.
In a statement released on Tuesday, he added: “I am calling on the federal government to double its efforts in equipping the Army with sophisticated arms and ammunitions. I gathered that our soldiers lacked adequate ammunition and they ran away from Ngoshe and Pulka because the terrorists overwhelmed them. It was only days after reinforcements arrived that they regained control.”
Ndume commended Governor Zulum for visiting the devastated communities and IDP camps, and called for federal support to rebuild and assist displaced persons.
Describing the scale of destruction, he said Ngoshe was “brought down to ground zero,” with only a small mosque left standing, while praising the Nigerian Army for retaking the area.
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