Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south in the national assembly, has advised President Bola Tinubu to hire military contractors for the battle against insurgents and bandits.
Ndume said this after a recent attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza LGA of Borno.
The attack led to the death of six farmers and the abduction of five.
In a phone conversation with journalists on Wednesday, Ndume said the mercenaries would be effective in curbing insecurity in all hotspots across the country.
“All across the world, governments hire the services of military contractors to engage in certain places,” he said.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can consider this as a short measure. These contractors will work with our military and civilian JTF, who understand the terrain.
“These contractors will come with their equipment and military hardware. In a very short time, they’ll eliminate those Boko Haram terrorists. The contractors can also be used to eliminate those bandits operating in the north-west.
“Over a period, the federal government can now recruit youths to join the military and raise the number to at least one million. But in the interim, I think the president should consider this option of hiring military contractors.”
Filibus Yakubu, councillor of Ngoshe ward in Gwoza LGA, said Jubril Zarana, commander of the civilian joint task force (JTF) in the area, was killed in the attack.
He said the terrorists ambushed farmers on their farms, killed some of them, and abducted others.
“The Boko Haram terrorists released three women from which this information was obtained. The released women further stated that the victims are being kept hostage by the terrorists,” Yakubu said.
“Moreover, some people were still missing as at this time that we’re talking, as a result of this incident. The people did not return to Ngoshe during the catastrophe, and as reported by the released women, they are not part of the ones abducted.
“Our people are severely suffering due to lack of essential life support, but they have chosen to remain in their fatherland because of the love they have for it.
“The state government has really tried for our people, but NGOs and others are not providing us with food supplies.”
THE CABLE
