Senator Ali Ndume advises President Tinubu to employ military contractors in the fight against Boko Haram, stressing the need for stronger external support to tackle the insurgency. Discover more about this strategic proposal.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the National Assembly, has called on President Bola Tinubu to hire military contractors to eradicate the remaining Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
Ndume commended the efforts of both the Nigerian military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), but emphasized that they lack sufficient equipment to completely eliminate terrorists in the North-East.
Ndume pointed out that global superpowers such as the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France have all employed military contractors to aid in their combat missions.
He proposed that this could serve as a temporary measure, enabling the Nigerian military to strengthen its ranks by enlisting able-bodied youths. The aim would be to increase the nation’s armed forces to at least one million personnel.
The senator’s appeal followed the recent murder of six farmers and the kidnapping of five others by Boko Haram terrorists in Ngoshe, located in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
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Ndume voiced his worry about terrorists targeting farmers, who are vital to the nation’s food security, especially amid a current food crisis. He emphasized the need to protect these farmers and urged for immediate measures to stop the violence.
“Governments globally often enlist military contractors for operations in specific regions. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu might contemplate this as a temporary strategy, enabling these contractors to collaborate with our armed forces and the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), who are well-acquainted with the local terrain.”
“These contractors will arrive with their equipment and military hardware. In a very short time, they’ll eliminate the Boko Haram terrorists. Additionally, these contractors can be deployed to eradicate the bandits operating in the North-West.”
Ndume, currently in Benin Republic for an ECOWAS Parliament engagement, suggested during a telephone interview with journalists that while the Federal Government could eventually increase military recruitment to reach at least one million youths over time, the President should consider temporarily hiring military contractors.
According to Platinumpost, the recent attack resulted in the death of Jubril Dada Zarana, commander of Civilian JTF in the area. Although military personnel attempted unsuccessfully to fend off the assailants, there were no casualties among them.
This recent assault comes just weeks after the same terrorists executed a deadly bomb blast, killing numerous civilians and injuring hundreds more.
