Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South senatorial district, has expressed concerns regarding the looting of crops by terrorists in the Gwoza communities of Borno State.
Ndume on Wednesday disclosed that he had been reliably informed by village heads from the affected areas—specifically Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya, and surrounding communities—about the dire situation facing local farmers, who are now left frustrated and hungry due to the loss of nearly half of their agricultural produce.
“Regarding the renewed Boko Haram killings, especially targeting farmers while harvesting their crops, I was reliably informed by the village heads of the affected Gwoza communities that almost half of the crops produced by resilient farmers in Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya, and other surrounding communities around the Mandara Mountains were looted by terrorists, leaving local farmers frustrated and hungry,” he was quoted by Vanguard as saying.
Ndume, a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, called on the Nigerian government to enhance military capabilities by providing adequate equipment and motivation to Nigerian forces.
He noted a conversation with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who assured him of plans to deploy additional troops to Gwoza to enable farmers to protect their crops.
“The military is determined and committed to ending Boko Haram’s madness, but this cannot be possible if they are not fully equipped, armed, trained, and motivated,” Ndume said.
The senator also addressed rumours circulating on social media regarding an ambush of his convoy by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, stating that he had safely returned from a condolence visit to families of those recently killed in the region.
He explained an incident from Tuesday, where his convoy, escorted by military personnel, was en route to Ngoshe when they received alarming reports of an ambush on Cameroonian soldiers along the Pulka-Kirawa Road.
He said despite the threats, he and his team proceeded to Kirawa, where they offered condolences to the families affected by previous attacks.
He encouraged residents to remain resilient amidst the ongoing violence, which has seen an increase in Boko Haram activities in the area.
Ndume said the ambush on the Kirawa road targeted a Cameroonian businessman, Alhaji Kadi, who was killed alongside an unidentified woman, with several others sustaining injuries.
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