Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called on the Federal Government to extend ongoing joint military operations with the United States to Nigeria’s North-East, citing the continued threat posed by terrorist groups in the region.
Ndume made the appeal on Saturday while applauding recent airstrikes carried out against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria elements in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The airstrikes were disclosed by United States President Donald Trump via his Truth Social platform, where he stated that the Department of War executed what he described as “numerous precision strikes.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, subsequently confirmed the operation, emphasising that it was conducted with Nigeria’s full cooperation, approval and intelligence backing, and that it neither breached the country’s sovereignty nor targeted any religious group.
Ndume, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on Army, said a similar collaboration in the North-East would deal a major blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram insurgents operating in the region.
“We welcome this cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in targeting terrorist hideouts,” Ndume said.
“I am calling on both governments to extend it to the North-East, where ISWAP and Boko Haram maintain three major strongholds—Lake Chad, the Mandara Mountains and the Sambisa Forest,” he added.
He further called for enhanced military cooperation between both countries, including increased training, intelligence sharing, logistics assistance and the deployment of attack helicopters to reinforce ground operations.
The senator also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing what he described as the highest budgetary allocation to defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, while urging transparency and accountability in the management of the funds.
Commenting on the recent suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Gamboru, Maiduguri, which left five people dead and several others injured, Ndume expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.
“The attack in Gamboru is a stark reminder that terrorists have no regard for religion. In this case, all the victims were Muslims. This clearly shows that the narrative of a Christian genocide does not exist.
“These terrorists are simply making life unbearable for our people, irrespective of faith,” he said.
