Senator Ali Ndume has endorsed assertions made by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, indicating that numerous culprits of terrorism in the Northeast originate from the affected communities in Borno and Yobe states.
Ndume expressed his views on Thursday during an appearance on Politics Today, a show on Channels Television, where he mentioned that insurgent assaults frequently involve local accomplices.
He stated that it is challenging for fighters to carry out attacks without insider assistance, adding that many participants in recent occurrences in his vicinity seem to be locals, based on their accents and familiarity with the landscape.
The legislator asserted that he concurs with the military leader’s stance that inhabitants need to assume responsibility for tackling the crisis.
He contended that insurgents often exploit unprotected communities, emphasizing that enhanced local vigilance and resistance could aid in deterring assaults.
NAIJATAB reports that Ndume’s remarks follow recent statements by Oluyede, who indicated that the majority of individuals involved in terrorism in the region hail from Borno and Yobe states and encouraged communities to take ownership of the issue to secure lasting peace.
Ndume stated: “Indeed, that is accurate; you cannot have insurgents arriving from outside to assault the town without insiders. So, most of the insurgents in my local government originate from my local government. Most of those who attacked, for instance, recently, you can discern from their accent that they are from Borno.
“I completely agree with what the CDs articulated. We must take ownership. And let me inform you, all these ragtag individuals—what distinguishes them? They appear destitute, they are neither strong nor look the part. The only thing they possess is that AK-47. If they realize that in a community, in every household, there is likely to be someone armed, they won’t approach that area.”
