Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has urged President Bola Tinubu to hire military contractors to intensify the fight against insurgency and banditry in Nigeria.
This call follows a deadly attack on the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, where six farmers were killed, and five others abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
Ndume, in a phone conversation with journalists on Wednesday, suggested that the involvement of military contractors could serve as an interim solution to Nigeria’s escalating insecurity.
He explained that governments worldwide employ military contractors to address security issues in difficult regions, and Nigeria could benefit from this approach.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can consider this as a short-term measure,” Ndume said.
“These contractors will work with our military and the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), who are familiar with the terrain.
They will bring in their equipment and military hardware and, in a short period, eliminate Boko Haram terrorists.
This approach can also be extended to neutralizing bandits in the northwest.”
The senator further recommended that while mercenaries handle the immediate threats, the federal government should recruit and train Nigerian youths to bolster the military, aiming for a force of at least one million personnel.
Ndume’s remarks followed the tragic attack in Ngoshe, where terrorists ambushed and killed several farmers.
Filibus Yakubu, councillor of Ngoshe ward, confirmed that the terrorists had also killed Jubril Zarana, a commander of the civilian JTF, during the attack.
Yakubu revealed that three women who were captured by the terrorists had been released and provided crucial information about the incident.
“The Boko Haram terrorists ambushed the farmers on their fields, killing some and abducting others,” Yakubu said.
“The released women informed us that the abductees are being held by the terrorists. Additionally, some people are still unaccounted for after the attack.”
Yakubu also noted the dire living conditions in the community, adding that while the state government has provided significant assistance, other humanitarian organizations have not contributed sufficient food supplies.
“Our people are suffering greatly from a lack of essential resources, but they remain in their homeland out of love for it,” he said.
The attack on Ngoshe underscores the continued threat of Boko Haram and other insurgent groups in the northeast, as residents grapple with insecurity and humanitarian challenges.
Ndume’s call for the hiring of mercenaries reflects growing frustration over the federal government’s struggle to restore peace in affected areas.
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