Senator confirms killing of civilians, Soldiers, terrorists in latest Borno attacks
Senator confirms killing of civilians, Soldiers, terrorists in latest Borno attacks
The Senator representing Southern Borno Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has called for a sustained and intensified military offensive in Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains following a deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The lawmaker confirmed that an unspecified number of civilians, soldiers and insurgents were killed when the terrorists stormed the community on Tuesday evening, leaving widespread destruction and fresh displacement in the area.
Ngoshe is among the communities recently resettled by authorities around the Mandara Mountains after years of insurgency in Southern Borno.
Ndume, who condemned the attack, commiserated with families of victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Speaking on Thursday, the senator said details of the incident were still emerging but noted that many of the fleeing terrorists were neutralised by the air component of the Joint Task Force in the North-East, Operation HADIN KAI.
He lamented that the Chief Imam of Ngoshe, some community elders and soldiers were among those killed during the attack.
According to him, more than 100 residents are still unaccounted for, while thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, have fled the area and are currently taking refuge in Pulka community.
Ndume also disclosed that the terrorists overran the military base in the community, destroying key equipment during the assault. Several houses and property valued at millions of naira were also set ablaze by the attackers.
Security sources said the insurgents launched the attack shortly after residents broke their Ramadan fast on Tuesday.
A source familiar with the incident said the terrorists overpowered the military formation with superior firepower during the assault.
Following the attack, Ndume urged the military to intensify ongoing counter-insurgency operations, particularly Operation DESERT SANITY in Sambisa Forest, which he said has already started producing positive results.
He recommended that the operation should be sustained rather than carried out intermittently to effectively dislodge insurgents operating in the forest and surrounding mountainous terrain.
The senator also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen the capacity of security agencies by providing fighter jets and advanced technological weapons to combat the persistent terrorist threat.
Ndume alleged that troops on the frontline lack adequate equipment, noting that security forces do not have sufficient Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and rely largely on AK-47 rifles.
He warned that the insurgents appear better equipped, deploying sophisticated weapons such as Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Anti-Aircraft Machine Guns (AAMGs), drones and other advanced technology during attacks.
