Secure release of 400 Ngoshe abductees -Ndume’s pleads with Tinubu

John Alechenu
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intensify efforts to secure the release of over 400 residents of Ngoshe community in Borno State, mostly women and children, abducted by Boko Haram insurgents last month.

Ndume, who represents Borno South, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Abuja yesterday. He noted that the military has rescued the community from the terrorists.

He urged the federal government to support the Borno state government in resettling displaced residents who are willing to return to Ngoshe.

The federal lawmaker said, “It is on record that the Nigerian Army has recovered Ngoshe from the insurgents and now occupies it. Those who escaped from the village are seeking refuge in Pulka.

“It’s appalling that those of us in authority at the federal level have not met our people’s expectations in fulfilling this sacred duty of securing lives and property, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

“We call on the federal government to take urgent action to secure the release of over 400 Ngoshe residents in captivity. We appeal to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to begin reconstructing the Ngoshe community, which was destroyed by the insurgents.

“From my interactions with the people, they’ve indicated willingness to return to Ngoshe and live in improvised tents before their houses are rebuilt. The people really want to go back and live in Ngoshe instead of Pulka.”

Ndume urged the federal government to reconstruct Ngoshe and support the state government’s N100 million reconstruction effort. Ndume commended the Nigerian Army’s resilience and urged the international community, particularly the US, to help combat terrorism in Borno State.

He reiterated his call for the federal government to adopt the TEAM approach – Training, Equipment, Ammunition, and Mobilization – to ensure the Nigerian Armed Forces are effective in combating insurgency.

The Borno South Senator urged President Tinubu to reinvigorate his Emergency on Security declaration, saying it has lost steam and that insurgents have resumed attacks.