Former Senate Leader and ex-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has called on the Federal Government to extend Nigeria’s joint military operations with the United States to cover the North-East region, where insurgent groups remain deeply entrenched.
Ndume made the appeal on Saturday while reacting to the United States’ airstrikes on Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) cells in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, an operation he described as commendable.
The United States President, Donald Trump, had earlier announced the attacks via his Truth Social platform, disclosing that the Department of War executed what he described as “numerous perfect strikes” on terrorist hideouts.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, subsequently confirmed the development, stressing that the strikes were carried out with Nigeria’s “full cooperation, approval and intelligence support.” He added that the operation neither violated Nigeria’s sovereignty nor targeted any religious group.
Against this backdrop, Ndume said extending the collaboration to the Northeast would significantly weaken the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram insurgents operating in the region.
“We welcome this cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in targeting terrorists’ hideouts,” he said.
“I am calling on them to extend it to the North-East where ISWAP and Boko Haram have their three known black spots: Lake Chad, Mandara Mountain and Sambisa, which are exclusive strongholds of ISWAP and Boko Haram.”
The Borno South senator further advocated deeper military collaboration beyond airstrikes, urging enhanced support for Nigeria’s ground forces.
“I also want to suggest that the military cooperation with the United States should extend to ground troops in training, intelligence and logistics,” Ndume said, adding, “They should also back it up with attack helicopters support for ground troops.”
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allocating what he described as the highest-ever funding to the defense sector in the 2026 budget, but stressed the need for strict oversight.
While acknowledging the increased allocation, the federal lawmaker insisted on accountability and transparency in the utilisation of defense funds.
Commenting on the recent suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Gamboru, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, which claimed five lives and left several others injured, Ndume expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
“I also sympathise with the bomb blasts victims in Borno State, where many people were killed and injured,” he said.
“The incident in the mosque in Gamboru is a clear indication that the terrorists don’t care about religion. In this instant case, on the eve of Christmas, all the victims were Muslims.
“So, the narrative of Christian genocide doesn’t exist. The terrorists making life unbearable for our people are blind to religion.”
