From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Amid rising insecurity and the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in Borno State, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on security, welfare and the economy.
Speaking to journalists following a series of security meetings in Abuja, Ndume, who represents Borno South senatorial district, decried the deteriorating situation in the state, citing a surge in insurgent attacks and the inadequate support for security forces battling the crisis.
“From November last year to date, we’ve experienced 252 attacks in Borno. Over 100 soldiers and 238 civilians have been killed,” he said. “Three of our local governments — Gudumbari, Marte and Abadam — are currently under Boko Haram control.”
Describing the scale of the threat, he said: “As I’m speaking to you now, from 6pm you cannot go anywhere except in Southern Borno. Even in Southern Borno, seven local governments out of the nine are in a similar situation — by 5pm, movement between local governments is not possible until the army scans the roads the following morning.”
He added that the main road from Maiduguri to Biu, which normally takes two hours to travel, has been shut down due to insecurity. “Before, you could go under military escort. Now the road is completely closed.
“The army formations in Wajiriku, Sabon Gari, Monguno, and Ngala have been displaced. We are losing territory. Just recently, Wajiriku in my senatorial district fell to Boko Haram.”
Ndume disclosed that he, along with Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, other senators from the state, and a House of Representatives member, met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff in Abuja to brief them on the gravity of the situation.
He decried the limitations faced by the Armed Forces despite their efforts. “The soldiers are overstretched, underpaid, and poorly equipped. A new army recruit earns just N50,000. Their daily ration allowance is N1,500 — can you get a decent meal with that today?” he asked.
Ndume lamented that despite their sacrifice, the forces are not getting the support they need. “These young people are ready to put down their lives for the country. But how do you expect them to do that without proper pay, equipment, or training?”
He called on the federal government to prioritise the welfare and capacity building of the armed forces. “If we must win this fight, our troops need to be trained, equipped, armed, and motivated. That’s what I call TEAM.”
Ndume also criticised the federal government’s budgeting approach, describing it as grossly inadequate for the demands of modern warfare. “Security requirements are not bought in naira. Just one MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle) costs over $900 million. A bullet costs around N800.”
He expressed disappointment at the federal government’s reaction to recent warnings by Governor Zulum about the deteriorating security situation. Governor Zulum had last Tuesday, in a meeting with security forces in Maiduguri, the state capital, warned that the Islamist group has renewed its attacks and kidnappings in the state with little pushback from security forces.
However, Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, responded to the disclosure by saying that the Federal Government has made significant progress in restoring peace and security across many parts of the country, including Borno.
“The Minister of Information said we’re not losing ground. But he’s never even been to Borno. During Buhari’s administration, Lai Mohammed visited Borno multiple times. That’s the kind of seriousness we expect,” Ndume stated.
He added that the Tinubu administration is being misled by individuals who are disconnected from the realities on the ground. “This is the problem with having karkistocrats — people without merit or empathy — in government.”
Ndume condemned the remarks by the Minister of Information, describing them as a disservice to the country and an insult to those living under threat.
“The governor met with the President and was mandated to brief the Service Chiefs after an expanded Security Council meeting in Maiduguri that included all eight emirs and top security officials.
“For the Minister of Information to come out and say the governor’s account is false is not only wrong, it’s reckless.
“That minister has never set foot in Borno and yet he dismisses the first-hand account of the chief security officer of the state. That’s a grave injustice to the people suffering on the ground.”