By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) has dismissed reports mostly circulating on social Media that his convoy was ambushed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists yesterday.
Senator Ndume made the clarification on Wednesday at his Maiduguri residence, soon after he returned from condolence visit to families of those recently killed by terrorists in Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya and other communities of Gwoza local government area.
Actually, Ndume said: ” Last Tuesday 8th October, 2024, my humble self and other concerned stakeholders with a convoy of military escort were on our way to Ngoshe to condole with families of those who were killed by terrorists before proceeding to Kirawa.
” On our way, we received a distress call that some Cameroonian soldiers and motorists were ambushed along Pulka-Kirawa road.
“After condoling with people of Ngoshe, we took courage and proceeded to Kirawa despite the fact that there was an attack on the road same day by terrorists.
“We reached Kirawa successfully where we also condoled with families of those killed by terrorists last week. We encouraged residents to be resilient, and not to panic over the renewed Boko Haram attacks”.
He clarified that the Kirawa road ambush were targeted at one Cameroonian Bureau De Change/businessman (Alhaji Kadi) who was killed alongside one unidentified woman, while others sustained injuries.
The one time Chairman Senate Committee on Army insisted that the Nigerian Military are still under equipped and lack the wherewithal to end Boko Haram/Banditry attacks.
He noted that the Nigerian Military forces and other security agencies are committed to end terrorism, unfortunately, some residents especially in Gwoza communities are frustrating the efforts by collaborating and giving information on the modus operandi of security agencies to terrorists.
“As Senator representing Southern Borno, and Gwoza inclusive, I had planned earlier to go to Ngoshe and Kirawa for a 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 7Div directed the Brigade Commander in Gwoza who led the escort team personally.
“It has been long that 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, information came to us that the Cameroonian Soldiers in Kirawa were ambushed by terrorists, but the target is not me, but the person they killed including an unidentified woman.
“Although, I was told that there were other passengers who are victims of the ambush, because Tuesday was a Market Day for Kirawa.
” I seriously suspected that some public are playing role or Boko Haram informants who were passing information to the terrorists.
“But the Nigerian Army had to sent a reinforcement team who cleared the entire area, even though, the detonated Bombs they (terrorists ) planted damaged two military patrol vehicles, we were able to take courage and visited Kirawa immediately after the attack to encourage our people to stand up against Boko Haram.
“I also took advantage while in Kirawa for condolences to lay a foundation of two block of classroom, and thank God, I am now here in Maiduguri healthy”. Ndume said.
On the renewed Boko Haram killings, especially targeting farmers while harvesting their crops, Ndume reliably informed by Village Head of the affected Gwoza communities that almost half of crops produced by resilient farmers in Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya and other surrounding communities around the Mandara Mountains were looted away by terrorists, leaving local farmers frustrated with hunger and lack of what they will eat.
“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, like I always say, the federal government should equip our military forces, armed and be motivated.
” I also spoke with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and he assured me that they are going to reinforce more additional forces to Gwoza to enable farmers harvest their hard earned crops.
“The military are so determined and committed to end Boko Haram madness, but this cannot be possible if they are not fully equipped, armed, trained and motivated.
“For example, in Nigeria with heavy population, we only have about 15 Attack- Helicopters, while country like Egypt with less than 80 million people have over 300 functional Attack Helicopters.
“In Maiduguri right now, we don’t have even one Attack Helicopter, although we do have few before, but as the security challenges deteriorated in other states, the Attack Helicopters were redeployed to those areas like in the North Western states.
“The platoon or Cameroonian Detachment in Kirawa have four (4) Mine Resistant Protection (MRAP) vehicles, while Nigerian Military forces in Ngoshe which is a battalion does not have even one (1) MRAP, so what are we saying; the Nigerian Military are committed, but they can’t win the war with empty hand.
“The second challenge we have is from our people, some of them are Boko Haram collaborators. If you watch the video clip released last week by one of the Boko Haram Commander in Ashigashiya, they are threatening the people to join Terrorism or risks been killed.
“So all hands must be on deck to complement efforts of our security agencies and the government to bring about lasting peace in the land.
“Even today, I was told that the only resettled community in Guzamala local government area (Mairari village) in Borno came under Boko Haram attack with two civilians injured this morning. Just yesterday, some people were killed in a road ambush along Dikwa- Marte road.
“In Gwoza alone, apart from the bomb blasts which killed over 30 people with about 100 injured last two months ago, the recent renewed attacks have claimed dozens of lives in the past two or three weeks. It is very worrisome indeed”. Ndume stressed.
