Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider hiring military contractors to assist in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. His plea follows a recent attack by the militants in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, where six farmers were killed and five others, including women, were abducted.
In a statement, Ndume acknowledged the commendable efforts of the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) but stressed that they are inadequately equipped to tackle the insurgency effectively. He argued that employing military contractors, who would collaborate with the existing forces, could provide a significant boost to the operations against Boko Haram and also address banditry in the North West.
He stated, “All across the world, governments hire military contractors to engage in certain places. 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. They will come with their equipment and military hardware, and in a very short time, they’ll eliminate those Boko Haram terrorists.”
Ndume further suggested that the federal government could subsequently recruit more youths into the military to strengthen the force over time, aiming to increase troop numbers to at least one million.
