By Samaila Emmanuel Bzugu
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Southern Borno, has stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan successfully flushed out Boko Haram insurgents in the final moments of his administration, thanks to the services of Private Military Consultants (PMC). Ndume shared this insight while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 10th Senate retreat of the Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution in Kano.
Recalling the success story, Ndume noted that the engagement of PMC services from South Africa, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, significantly drove insurgents out of Maiduguri in 2014.
I have been Chairman of the House Committee on Army and I am from Borno State where it all started
“I have been Chairman of the House Committee on Army and I am from Borno State where it all started. We fundamentally have three challenges in the country: Boko Haram, Bandits or Kidnapping, and IPOB. All these three, interacting with all security agencies, if the government is very serious about these, it can be addressed in six months and at most one year.”
Ndume emphasized that bandits lack training and equipment, often using arms seized from Nigerian forces. He questioned why authorities can’t trace notorious criminals like Turji using modern technology, suggesting a deeper issue.
“These bandits are not trained and not equipped. Most of the equipment they used is that delivered to them or taken over from our armed forces. In today’s technology, with advancement in ICT, if they can trace where an individual or politically exposed persons effectively, what stops you from tracing where Turji or other criminals are? So there is something fundamentally wrong there.”
Ndume commended the Chief of Army Staff for highlighting the need for more resources and personnel to secure Nigeria’s 230 million people.
The response to it immediately is to recruit more people into the Nigerian Army. We have the youths who are willing to serve but no opportunity or encouragement. We can’t move forward when 70 percent of our population are the youths and mostly from the poor
“The response to it immediately is to recruit more people into the Nigerian Army. We have the youths who are willing to serve but no opportunity or encouragement. We can’t move forward when 70 percent of our population are the youths and mostly from the poor.”
Ndume pointed out that incorporating modern technology and special forces would greatly aid in tackling banditry.
“The Nigerian army is known for their agility, professionalism, competence, and commitment but once you don’t have enough personnel, good training, equipment, arms, and ammunition, there will be no result and no magic. If you give them (Service Chiefs) what it takes and give them a deadline, they will achieve it, especially when you give them the special forces and give the PMC the contract.”
Before our forefathers were captured to go and be sold as slaves. Today, our youths are taking the risks of going to Niger and others to go and become slaves on their own. They even pay for it
Ndume expressed concern about the country’s youth losing faith and resorting to desperation.
“Before our forefathers were captured to go and be sold as slaves. Today, our youths are taking the risks of going to Niger and others to go and become slaves on their own. They even pay for it. These bandits go to the extent of recording themselves and broadcasting it, yet all the service Chiefs and ministers were in Sokoto, and could not get Turji.”
He concluded by emphasizing the need for serious action.
“Let us be serious. Let us concentrate on the security and welfare of the citizens. Let us not treat our problems superficially by pretending. There is hunger in the land. We have not cultivated 5 percent of our lands in Nigeria.”
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