Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has endorsed the military’s shoot-on-sight directive against terrorists and bandits, insisting that sustained military offensives, rather than negotiations or concessions, remain the most effective strategy for ending insecurity in Nigeria.
Key Highlights:
- Senator Ali Ndume backs military’s shoot-on-sight order against terrorists and bandits.
- Rejects reintegration of repentant terrorists into society.
- Urges authorities to treat anyone aiding criminal groups as accomplices.
- Commends recent military successes against insurgents across the country.
- Calls on President Bola Tinubu to communicate more directly with Nigerians.
- Welcomes the Northern Governors’ regional security trust fund initiative.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, the senator representing Borno South also opposed the reintegration of former terrorists into society, arguing that individuals who support criminal groups should face prosecution as accomplices.
Ndume said recent gains recorded by the Armed Forces demonstrate that insurgent groups are steadily losing ground under sustained military pressure.
“If the tempo is kept, I’m sure this thing will come to an end,” he said.
The ranking lawmaker cited the elimination of several terrorist leaders, the surrender of insurgent commanders, and improved security in parts of the North-East and South-East as evidence that the military’s strategy is producing results.
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Reaffirming his support for the armed forces, Ndume insisted that terrorists and bandits should not be shown leniency.
“You don’t spare a bandit. You don’t spare a terrorist. Once you identify a terrorist, because if you don’t kill him, he will kill you,” he stated.
His comments follow recent remarks by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), who directed troops on the frontline to immediately neutralise terrorists and bandits without waiting for additional orders during combat operations.
The Defence Minister also ruled out negotiations with terrorist groups or the payment of ransom, warning that such actions only embolden criminal organisations, allow them to regroup, and prolong insecurity across the country.
Although Ndume declined to disclose details of his meeting with President Tinubu, he revealed that their discussions focused primarily on Nigeria’s security situation and economic challenges, which he described as the nation’s most pressing concerns.
According to the senator, President Tinubu demonstrated his commitment to tackling insecurity by holding a meeting with the nation’s service chiefs before receiving him.
“I had an appointment for 3 p.m., but I had to wait because the President was in a security meeting. As you can see, the service chiefs came in. That means the President is sitting up,” Ndume said.
He noted that military operations against bandits in the North-West have intensified, while offensives in the North-East have resulted in the neutralisation of key insurgent leaders and the surrender of several fighters.
Ndume also acknowledged improvements in the South-East, saying separatist-related violence has reduced significantly in recent months.
“The South-East issue is not as before, and that is one area where we need to commend the President, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Army and other security agencies for what they are doing,” he added.
The lawmaker welcomed the decision by the 19 Northern governors to establish a regional security trust fund, describing the initiative as a positive step toward strengthening collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments.
“You don’t leave security entirely to the Federal Government. If the governors are contributing resources, they should work with existing security institutions. The more coordinated the effort, the stronger the response,” he said.
Beyond security, Ndume urged the Tinubu administration to intensify efforts to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians through better coordination of intervention programmes aimed at reducing the cost of living.
“We have all it takes. It is just that we need to coordinate our efforts. Once Nigerians see the efforts of the government, they will appreciate them,” he said.
The senator also advised President Tinubu to address Nigerians more frequently through national broadcasts, arguing that direct communication would improve public confidence in government policies.
“I told Mr President that he should speak directly to Nigerians. People expect their leader to tell them what is going on instead of leaving others to speak on his behalf. That is very important,” he said.
According to Ndume, the President welcomed his suggestions and agreed that they should maintain regular consultations on issues affecting the country, stressing that addressing Nigeria’s challenges requires the collective input of all stakeholders.
