Kano, Nigeria – Senator Ali Ndume, representing Southern Borno, recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan successfully pushed back Boko Haram insurgents during the final months of his administration through the engagement of Private Military Consultants (PMC). Speaking during the 10th Senate retreat on the review of the 1999 constitution, held in Kano, Ndume reflected on the pivotal role PMCs, specifically from South Africa, played in collaboration with the Nigerian Army in 2014, significantly reducing insurgency in Maiduguri.
Ndume, a former Chairman of the House Committee on Army and a native of Borno, emphasized that Nigeria faces three main security challenges: Boko Haram, banditry, and IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra). He expressed confidence that with serious government commitment, these issues could be resolved within six months to a year.
“These bandits are neither trained nor equipped,” Ndume pointed out. He stressed the potential of modern technology to trace criminals, just as it is used to monitor politically exposed individuals. He also commended the Chief of Army Staff for highlighting the challenge of inadequate resources, noting that Nigeria’s security agencies lack the manpower and equipment needed to effectively protect 230 million citizens.
Ndume advocated for the recruitment of more young people into the Nigerian Army, arguing that many Nigerian youths are eager to serve but lack opportunities. He warned of the growing desperation among youths, with many taking extreme risks to escape poverty, including traveling to other countries to work in deplorable conditions.
Ndume lauded the effectiveness of Jonathan’s decision to engage the South African PMCs in 2014. “When the consultant came, they collaborated with the Nigerian armed forces, recruited civilian JTF members who knew the terrain, and flushed out Boko Haram,” he said. He attributed the success in Maiduguri to this strategy, which pushed the insurgents to remote areas like the Lake Chad region, Mandara mountains, and Sambisa Forest.
Despite these successes, Ndume expressed frustration at the current state of insecurity, especially regarding banditry. He pointed out how brazenly bandits record and broadcast their activities, highlighting the recent case in Sokoto, where top security officials failed to apprehend a notorious bandit, Turji.
Ndume urged the federal government to focus on raising the capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces by increasing the number of personnel, providing modern equipment, and leveraging technology to tackle banditry and insurgency. He also emphasized the need for addressing hunger and maximizing agricultural potential, as only 5% of Nigeria’s land is currently cultivated.
He concluded by stressing the importance of equipping the Nigerian Army with modern arms and ammunition, noting that he had not observed sufficient modern weaponry, such as new AK-47s or AK-49s, being used by troops in the field. “If we take security and the welfare of our citizens seriously, and empower our military and special forces, the current wave of insecurity will be history,” Ndume asserted.