…Urges Tinubu to intensify operations for abducted Borno schoolchildren’s rescue
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno-South, has hailed the rescue of all abducted schoolchildren and women in Orire local government area of Oyo State as a big success for President Bola Tinubu’s government, while warning that many more Nigerians remain in captivity.
Speaking on television yesterday evening, the Senator said he was excited by news that federal security forces rescued the victims without a ‘quid pro quo’, arrested eight kidnappers, who are now in DSS custody, and neutralised others, as confirmed by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
Ndume said this was the first time Nigerians heard clearly that it was a genuine rescue operation where the captors were overpowered and arrested, showing improved response from security agencies, possibly aided by satellite surveillance.
However, he urged the Federal Government not to relent, disclosing that 56 people are still in captivity in Gwoza, his own local government area, including women and children from Ngoshe, held since May 15 for over 50 days, plus victims kidnapped between Buratai and Biu and Chibok schoolgirls.
The lawmaker renewed his call for TEAM — (Training, Equipment, Ammunition and Motivation) — for troops, and demanded deployment of attack helicopters to every geo-political zone and brigade, noting they only need a helipad, not an airport, to operate.
Ndume also revealed he had a frank, one-hour closed-door meeting with President Tinubu, where he spoke bluntly about the security reality, saying the President assured him: “I will do everything to secure Nigerians”.
He advised Tinubu to regularly invite prominent Nigerians who will tell him the truth, rather than surrounding himself with people he described as ‘kakistocrats’ – people not supposed to be there.
