ABUJA — Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has thrown his weight behind the directive by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), ordering troops to shoot terrorists and bandits on sight, insisting that sustained military operations—not negotiations or concessions—remain the most effective strategy for ending insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, the Borno South senator also rejected the reintegration of repentant terrorists into society, arguing that anyone who supports criminal groups should be treated as an accomplice.
Ndume said recent military gains across the country indicate that insurgents are gradually losing ground due to intensified offensives by the Armed Forces.
“If the current tempo is sustained, I’m confident this insecurity will come to an end,” he said.
He pointed to the elimination of key terrorist leaders, the surrender of several insurgent commanders, and improved security in parts of the North-East and South-East as evidence that the military’s strategy is producing results.
The senator maintained that terrorists and bandits should not be shown mercy.
“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,” Ndume stated.
His comments come days after Defence Minister General Christopher Musa directed troops on the frontlines to immediately neutralise terrorists and bandits whenever they encounter them, stressing that soldiers no longer need to wait for additional orders before taking action.
The minister also reiterated the Federal Government’s position against negotiating with terrorists or paying ransom, warning that such concessions only strengthen criminal groups and prolong insecurity.
Although Ndume declined to disclose details of his private meeting with President Tinubu, he revealed that discussions focused on Nigeria’s security situation and the economy, which he described as the country’s most pressing challenges.
He commended the President for prioritising security, noting that Tinubu was meeting with the 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,” he said.
Ndume added that military operations against bandits in the North-West have intensified, while counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East have led to the neutralisation of several terrorist leaders and the surrender of many fighters.
He also acknowledged improved security in the South-East, saying separatist-related violence has reduced significantly.
“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 said.
The senator further welcomed the decision by the 19 Northern governors to establish a regional security trust fund, describing it as a significant 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.
On the economy, Ndume urged the Tinubu administration to better coordinate its interventions to ease the hardship facing Nigerians and reduce the rising 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.
He also advised President Tinubu to communicate more directly with Nigerians through regular national broadcasts, saying consistent engagement would strengthen 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,” Ndume said.
According to the senator, President Tinubu welcomed the suggestions and agreed on the need for regular consultations on national issues.
“A country like Nigeria must have problems, and the President alone cannot solve all the problems. He needs people that can share ideas with him because two heads are better than one,” he added.
Comments