About eleven farmers have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists in border communities around the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State within the past seven days
At least fifteen others have also been kidnapped while some others sustained injuries from attacks by the terrorists.
While confirming the attacks, Senator Ali Ndume says the terrorists also burnt two military vehicles in an ambush along the Kirawa border community of the state.
“There is a renewed attack by Boko Haram in our region. Unfortunately, Gwoza is one of the local governments that was most hit after the bomb blast some two months ago,” Ndume who is a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army said.
“Just last week, Boko Haram ambushed farmers or attacked farmers while harvesting their crops killed eight of them in Ngoshe, and captured or kidnapped but five people up to now, and one person sustained injuries.”
Senator Ndume thanked security personnel for their efforts but lamented that the Army lacked the morale to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.
“In all this, one thing is very glaring: that is the military are so determined and committed to bringing this thing [Boko Haram insurgency] to an end. But this cannot be work if they are not trained, equipped, armed, and motivated,” Ndume said in his Maiduguri residence on Wednesday.
“This is the problem and that’s what I am talking about and will continue to talk about.”
“For example, we have, I think a total of 15 or so by the records, attack helicopters in Nigeria as big as it is. And considering the challenges we are facing, that is grossly inadequate.
“Egypt here with 80 million or less than 100 million population has over 300 attack helicopters. I am very, very sure if the Nigerian Army is equipped, they can bring this to a total end within a short time.“
In Maiduguri here right now, we don’t have any attack helicopters on the ground.
“We don’t have any helicopters on the ground. Before we used to have few but as the challenges around the country increase, they have to be deploying them elsewhere.”
