Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has expressed confidence that Nigeria can tackle its major security challenges within six months to a year if the government takes decisive action.
He stressed that with proper support for security chiefs, including providing enough manpower, equipment, and resources, the country could make significant progress in addressing insecurity.
Speaking about the issues facing Nigeria, Ndume mentioned that the Nigerian Army needs more modern weapons, noting that some formations still lack even basic firearms like new AK-47s.
He explained, “We have three fundamental challenges in the country—Boko Haram, bandits or kidnappers, and IPOB. If the government takes this seriously, these problems can be solved in six months, or at most, one year.”
The senator pointed out that many of the criminals are not well-trained or equipped and often use weapons taken from Nigerian armed forces.
He questioned why, with modern technology, security forces are unable to track notorious criminals, saying, “In today’s technology, with advancements in ICT, if they can trace where an individual is, what stops them from tracing criminals like Turji?”
Ndume also praised the Chief of Army Staff for acknowledging the difficulty of securing a large population like Nigeria’s with limited resources. He suggested recruiting more young people into the army, emphasizing that many Nigerian youths are eager to serve but lack opportunities. He warned that some young Nigerians are becoming desperate and leaving the country in search of better lives.
Ndume called for urgent reforms in the security sector, urging the government to act quickly to address Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity crisis.
