Ndume calls for expanded US-Nigeria military cooperation to target North-East terror enclaves

Senator Ali Ndume, the former Senate Leader, has urged the Federal Government to broaden its joint military operations with the United States to include terrorist strongholds in Nigeria’s North-East region.

Ndume issued the appeal on Saturday, expressing strong support for the recent joint airstrikes conducted against Islamic State (ISIS) cells in Sokoto State’s Tangaza Local Government Area.

This operation, first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, was later confirmed by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, who emphasized it was a collaborative effort based on Nigerian intelligence and approval.

The Senator, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on the Army, argued that extending such missions to the Northeast is critical for defeating the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) factions.

He specifically identified their primary enclaves: Lake Chad, Mandara Mountain, and the Sambisa Forest.

Ndume advocated for deeper military collaboration beyond airstrikes, calling for enhanced U.S. support in training ground troops, intelligence sharing, logistics, and attack helicopter backup for Nigerian forces.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing defense in the 2024 budget, Ndume stressed the need for transparency and accountability in how these funds are utilized.

He also extended his condolences to the victims of a recent suicide bombing at a mosque in Gamboru, Borno State, which occurred on Christmas Eve.

Ndume highlighted that the attack, which killed and injured Muslims, demonstrates that the terrorists’ violence is indiscriminate and not religiously motivated, countering narratives of a targeted “Christian genocide.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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