Sticks Can’t Stop Terrorists” — Ndume Demands Armed Community Defence After Borno Massacre
“Sticks Can’t Stop Terrorists” — Ndume Demands Armed Community Defence After Borno Massacre
The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has raised the alarm over renewed bloodshed in his state, warning that civilians armed only with dane guns and sticks cannot withstand the firepower of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.
His outcry follows the gruesome Friday night attack on Darajamal, a community in Bama Local Government Area, where at least 58 civilians and five soldiers were killed.
In a statement on Sunday, Ndume decried the worsening insecurity across Borno South, North, and Central, stressing that communities remain “under siege” despite the sacrifices of the military and local volunteers.
‘CJTF can’t fight AK-47s with sticks’
The lawmaker praised the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, and vigilantes for their courage but insisted they were grossly ill-equipped.
“Men of the CJTF and vigilantes have been doing their best, but they have limitations. They only carry dane guns and sticks, which they find very difficult to confront the terrorists with,” Ndume said.
He urged the Federal Government to establish an Armed Community Defence Force that would complement the overstretched military.
Deploy TEAAM, not excuses
Ndume also reiterated his long-standing call for the deployment of what he calls TEAAM — Technology, Equipment, Arms and Ammunition, and Motivation — as the only sustainable way to defeat insurgency after more than a decade of bloodshed in the Northeast.
“The government must prioritise the security, safety and welfare of Nigerians. Without deploying modern technology, firepower, and adequate motivation for our troops, we cannot bring an end to Boko Haram atrocities,” he warned.
Zulum echoes manpower concerns
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, who visited Darajamal on Saturday, also lamented the military’s manpower shortage. He called for the immediate deployment of newly trained forest guards to vulnerable areas.
“We have to admit that the numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere. Deploying forest guards to protect our communities and forests is one of the urgent solutions,” Zulum said.
A plea for cooperation
While mourning the victims, Ndume urged residents to continue working with the military by providing intelligence on terrorist movements, stressing that information sharing remained key to countering insurgents.
By Haruna Yakubu Haruna
