By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called on the military under the Theatre Command, North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, and other security agencies to clear the North East of terrorist threats, especially in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains.
This, he emphasized, is crucial for enabling peasant farmers to return to their farmlands without fear.
The lawmaker specifically cited areas like the Sambisa forests, Mandara mountains, and border communities within Gwoza and the Republic of Cameroon, where insurgents have made farming a dangerous venture.
Senator Ndume noted that terrorists have been causing significant economic setbacks for resilient farmers recently resettled in liberated communities such as Ngoshe, Kirawa, Warabe, Wala, Pulka, and Gwoza town.
He said, “Sincerely, the renewed pockets of attacks recently perpetrated by insurgents have posed serious economic setbacks to our resilient farmers who were newly resettled in liberated communities of Ngoshe, Kirawa, Warabe, Wala, Pulka and even Gwoza town, the Council headquarters.
This is because the terrorists resorted to looting of their unmatured crops without confrontation.
want to use this medium to appeal to the military and other security agencies to intensify more efforts aimed at clearing remnants of terrorists still hibernating in Sambisa Forests and parts of Mandara Mountains bordering Cameroon Republic and Nigeria.”
Ndume also commended Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, for his extraordinary efforts in rebuilding around 10 Gwoza communities that were previously destroyed.
He praised the military for restoring civil authority and noted the deployment of a military doctor providing free daily medical services to over 10,000 residents of Ngoshe and its surrounding communities who have returned to their ancestral homes.
While acknowledging the need for more development, Ndume expressed gratitude to Governor Zulum, saying, “Like Oliver Twist, we may ask for more, but to be honest, Zulum has exceeded our expectations.”