Ndume: Why US-Nigeria military operations should be extended to N/East 

Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has urged the federal government to expand ongoing joint military operations with the United States to Nigeria’s North-East, citing the persistent threat posed by terrorist groups in the region.

Ndume made the call on Saturday while commending the recent airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) cells in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The strikes were announced by United States President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he disclosed that the Department of War carried out what he described as “numerous precision strikes.”

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, later confirmed the operation, stressing that it was conducted with Nigeria’s full cooperation, approval and intelligence support, and did not violate the country’s sovereignty or target any religious group.

Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, said extending such joint operations to the North-East would significantly weaken the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.

“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 also advocated deeper military collaboration, including training, intelligence sharing, logistics support and the deployment of attack helicopters to support ground troops.

Ndume commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allocating the highest budgetary provision to defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, but stressed the need for accountability and transparency in the utilisation of the funds.

Reacting to the recent suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Gamboru, Maiduguri, which claimed five lives and left several others injured, the former Senate Chief Whip expressed condolences to 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

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