Senator Representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has cautioned against religious profiling in the wake of renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno State, stressing that the insurgents do not target victims based on faith.
The lawmaker issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday following deadly assaults on Ngoshe village in Gwoza Local Government Area and Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.
Over the weekend, Boko Haram fighters launched fresh attacks that claimed eight lives. Five Muslim farmers were killed in Ngoshe, while three Christian youths were murdered in Mussa. Homes, shops, and other properties were also set ablaze during the incidents.
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Describing the violence as “heartbreaking and deeply painful,” Ndume paid tribute to the sacrifices of troops under Operation Hadin Kai and assured his constituents that he would continue to push for stronger security measures.
He emphasized the need for increased deployment of personnel, advanced weapons, and enhanced intelligence gathering to secure rural communities vulnerable to insurgent raids. The senator also urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies to help forestall further attacks.
In his remarks, Ndume condemned an online media report which claimed that all the victims were Christians. He noted that such narratives were misleading and could incite unnecessary division.
According to him, “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, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, further lamented that ordinary people pursuing peace and livelihood continue to fall victim to the cruelty of Boko Haram. “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,” he said.
While commending the Nigerian military for sustaining the offensive against the insurgents, the senator reiterated his call on the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare of troops and provide sufficient arms and ammunition to decisively defeat Boko Haram.
