Jonathan flushed out Boko Haram but service chiefs can’t pick up Turji – APC Senator

Jonathan’s Military Strategy: Ndume Critiques Current Tactics Against Boko Haram.

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Southern Borno, has criticized the current military approach to combating Boko Haram, emphasizing the successful use of Private Military Consultants (PMC) during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Speaking to journalists at a recent Senate retreat in Kano, Ndume recalled how PMCs from South Africa helped significantly reduce insurgent presence in Maiduguri in 2014.

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Ndume articulated that Nigeria faces three fundamental security challenges: Boko Haram, banditry, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He believes that if the government adopts a serious strategy, these issues could be addressed within six months to a year.

According to him, the bandits are poorly trained and equipped, often using weapons taken from the Nigerian armed forces. He questioned why the military could track high-profile individuals but struggles to locate known criminals like Turji, suggesting that fundamental issues within the military’s operations need to be addressed.

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The senator commended the Chief of Army Staff for acknowledging the unrealistic expectations placed on the military, given its limited resources. He urged for increased recruitment into the Nigerian Army, highlighting the untapped potential of the nation’s youth who are eager to serve but lack opportunities.

Reflecting on the past, Ndume stated, “Boko Haram reached its last peak in 2014… They said they should give them [the PMCs] two or three months to flush Boko Haram out, and they did.” He noted that the collaboration between PMCs and the Nigerian armed forces, including local recruits from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), was instrumental in driving the insurgents away from Maiduguri.

Despite these past successes, Ndume expressed frustration over the current inability of the military to address the ongoing threats. He criticized the military’s slow response to high-profile kidnappers and terrorists who continue to operate with impunity. “These bandits go to the extent of recording themselves and broadcasting it… yet all the service chiefs and ministers were in Sokoto and could not get Turji,” he remarked.

Ndume emphasized the necessity of not only increasing personnel numbers but also equipping the military with the right tools and technology to effectively combat insurgency and banditry. He pointed out that the Nigerian Army has the capacity and commitment to succeed but is hindered by inadequate training and resources.

He concluded by calling for serious attention to the security and welfare of citizens, stressing the need to cultivate the land and address hunger, which remains a critical issue alongside the security challenges facing Nigeria.