Senator Ali Ndume has urged the Nigerian government and the United States to take their joint military efforts against terrorist groups beyond the North-West and into the North-East, where insurgents remain active. He made this call while reacting to recent US-backed airstrikes on ISWAP hideouts in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Ndume praised the recent operation, saying it showed the value of cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in tackling terrorism. He explained that expanding the operations to the North-East would weaken Boko Haram and ISWAP, which he said still operate from known locations such as Lake Chad, the Mandara Mountains, and the Sambisa forest.
The lawmaker also called for deeper cooperation beyond airstrikes. He said the partnership should cover training of ground troops, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and the use of attack helicopters to assist soldiers during operations.
Ndume welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to allocate a large portion of the proposed 2026 budget to defence. However, he added that the funds must be properly managed, with openness and accountability in how they are spent.
Reacting to the recent suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Gamboru, Maiduguri, which reportedly killed five people and injured several others, Ndume expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. He said the attack showed that terrorists do not act based on religion, noting that the victims were Muslims and that insurgents target innocent people regardless of faith.
His comments come as global attention returns to Nigeria’s security situation following confirmation by US President Donald Trump that American forces carried out an airstrike against suspected terrorist targets in Nigeria. US officials said the strike was based on shared intelligence and carried out with Nigeria’s approval.
Nigeria has faced security challenges for more than a decade, including insurgency in the North-East and banditry in other regions, leading to widespread loss of lives and displacement. Although the United States has long supported Nigeria with training and intelligence, direct US airstrikes in the country are uncommon and often raise public debate.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, later confirmed that Nigerian intelligence led to the strike and that the government approved the operation before it was carried out. He said the action was part of ongoing security cooperation and had nothing to do with religion.
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