Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, has expressed concern over what he described as inadequate military equipment in the fight against insurgency, following a recent attack in his constituency.
Speaking during an interview with The Vanguard Newspaper, the senior lawmaker said troops stationed in Ngoshe were forced to withdraw temporarily after coming under heavy attack from insurgents due to insufficient equipment and ammunition.
“What happened in Ngoshe is that the military there lacked adequate equipment and ammunition, including MRAPs. That is why they had to do a tactical withdrawal when the terrorists struck. They later reassembled and returned to retake Ngoshe,” Ndume explained.
He maintained that the situation could have been different if the troops were properly equipped, stressing that Nigerian soldiers are capable and committed.
“If they were adequately equipped, they wouldn’t have been dislodged because the Nigerian Army are very gallant, strong and determined young people. Some of them gave up their lives in the process as they stood firmly to fight,” he added.
Ndume also commended President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in security, but urged the federal government to intensify efforts to provide modern equipment and improve the welfare and morale of soldiers on the frontlines.
The senator’s remarks come amid ongoing concerns about the capacity of security forces to effectively combat insurgents, particularly in the North-East region, where attacks by extremist groups continue to pose significant challenges. #Securitynewsalert.com
