Ali Ndume, Senator representing Borno South, has cautioned against giving religious coloration to the victims of Boko Haram attacks, stressing that the insurgents’ violence knows no faith or tribe.
Ndume gave the admonition in a statement on Wednesday, following renewed weekend attacks in Ngoshe village, Gwoza Local Government Area, and Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
During the incidents, five Muslim farmers were killed on Saturday in Ngoshe, while three Christians were murdered the following day in Mussa.
Media reports also indicated that dozens of houses were razed during the assaults.
Reacting to claims by an online media platform that the victims of the insurgents were solely Christians, the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army condemned the narrative, describing it as misleading and dangerous.
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He said, “It is unethical and unconscionable for any media outlet to drive the narrative that Christians are the targets of these attacks by the terror group in Borno, or anywhere in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria.
“The forces behind these mindless killings are blind to faith and tribe. We should avoid this dangerous profiling, which can distract us.
“It tends to do us more harm. It can even inflame negative passion in our soldiers, dampen the morale of men who toil day and night, determined to ensure that they wipe away this dangerous sect.”
Ndume lamented the plight of residents in the region, saying, “Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, continue to fall victim to the cruelty of insurgents.
“These men and women deserved to live, to farm and to dream, but their lives are being cut short by those who thrive on violence and destruction.”
While commending the military for sustaining pressure against Boko Haram, the senator reiterated his call on the Federal Government to show greater commitment to the welfare of soldiers and ensure adequate supply of arms and ammunition to enable them to defeat the insurgents.
