Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider hiring attack helicopters for the Nigerian military to strengthen its fight against insurgency if the government lacks the funds to procure them.
Mr Ndume, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the yearly budgetary allocation to the military should be significantly increased to enable the armed forces to acquire adequate equipment.
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The senator made the call in a statement on Sunday while sympathising with families of victims killed by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Several soldiers, the chief imam of the town and some community elders were reportedly killed in the incident, which occurred shortly after Muslims broke their fast on Wednesday. More than 100 women and children were also abducted during the attack.
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In the statement, Mr Ndume commended the military for its intervention but urged President Tinubu to properly equip security forces to effectively combat insurgency.
“The Nigerian Army Budget is insignificant compared to what is in the Budget, that’s less than 10 per cent of the budget and the Nigerian Army budget should be frontloaded.
“The president should ensure that the Nigerian security agencies budget be frontloaded. Even if we can’t purchase attack helicopters, we should consider hiring to be deployed to black spots areas,” he said.
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The Ngoshe attack is one of several recent attacks by terrorists in Nigeria’s North-east.
On 1 March, Boko Haram terrorists attacked a Forward Operations Base (FOB) and killed its commander, Major UI Mairiga, three soldiers and a hunter in Mayanti, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
On 6 February, four soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram ambush at Auno near Jakana along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road in Borno State. The troops reportedly came under attack at about 10:50 p.m. while on their way to reinforce colleagues who were under assault.
Earlier, on 5 January, at least nine soldiers were killed and several others injured when their convoy struck a landmine and came under Boko Haram fire near Bindundul village, about 20 kilometres from Kareto in Mobbar Local Government Area of the state.
On 28 January, Boko Haram fighters attacked a military formation in Damasak, killing seven soldiers, including the commanding officer who held the rank of major.
Two days later, on 30 January, terrorists attacked Wajirko community along the Biu-Damboa Road in Borno State, killing five soldiers and 15 civilians.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Mr Ndume will be requesting for improved military hardware.
Also, over the years, lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly have repeatedly criticised the delays in defence procurement and the inadequate equipment available to troops battling insurgents and bandits.
During his screening by the Senate on 3 December, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, also lamented the insufficient funding available for military operations.
Although the Tinubu administration has introduced several security initiatives, including the reorganisation of the security architecture, the strengthening of forest guard operations and the recruitment of additional military personnel.
ALSO READ: Ndume urges Tinubu to extend US airstrikes to North-east
However, there are concerns about the country’s capacity to match the firepower and mobility of non-state armed groups.
Some commentators argue that despite these measures, poor welfare, inadequate support systems and low morale among frontline soldiers continue to undermine operational effectiveness.
Engage in coordinated attacks
Mr Ndume also called on the president to ensure that the military carries out coordinated offensives in the North-east, particularly through clearance operations in Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains.
“Government should walk its talk of emergency by engaging in coordinated and sustainable attacks on the targets especially in the North East. They should carry out consistent clearance operations in Lake Chad, Sambisa forest and the Mandara because the recent attacks were well coordinated by the insurgents.
“For example, the Ngoshe massacre was carried out by the insurgents from the Mandara mountains assisted by others from Sambisa and the Lake Chad, using their known routes, including the Mandara mountains, Lake Chad and Sambisa,” he said.
The senator also urged the president to establish a situation room in the Presidential Villa to monitor developments in the fight against insecurity.
“Since the president has declared a state of emergency, he should have a situation room in his office in the Villa. He should use that to brief Nigerians directly. They want to hear from him from time to time.
“Nigeria also deserves an Air Components Centre in the three geo- political zones in the North with attack helicopters deployed to the areas.”
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