Ali Ndume, Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify military operations against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East, calling for coordinated clearance offensives in key terrorist strongholds including Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, and the Mandara Mountains.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the renewed attacks by insurgent groups show the need for stronger and more coordinated military action across the region. He stressed that reclaiming and securing major hideouts used by terrorists would significantly weaken their operational capacity and restore stability in affected communities.
According to the lawmaker, the military must launch simultaneous clearance operations in these strategic locations to dismantle insurgent camps and disrupt their supply routes. He noted that the terrain around Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains has long served as safe havens for fighters linked to Boko Haram and other extremist groups operating in the region.
Ndume explained that although Nigerian troops have recorded successes in past operations, the insurgents continue to regroup in difficult terrains and border areas. He warned that without sustained and well-coordinated offensives, the militants would continue to threaten lives, humanitarian operations and economic activities in the North-East.
“The military must intensify clearance operations in these known enclaves. These areas have remained major operational bases for insurgents for years, and dismantling them is crucial to ending the cycle of attacks,” Ndume said.
The senator also called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian forces and neighbouring countries within the Lake Chad Basin to prevent insurgents from exploiting porous borders. He emphasized that regional cooperation would help track militant movements and prevent fighters from escaping across borders during military operations.
Ndume further urged the federal government to ensure that troops deployed to the region receive adequate logistics, intelligence support and modern equipment to effectively carry out their assignments. According to him, improving the welfare and operational capacity of soldiers would boost morale and enhance the overall effectiveness of counter-insurgency campaigns.
Security analysts have repeatedly pointed to the strategic importance of Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, which provide natural cover for insurgents and make military operations more complex. The dense vegetation and rugged terrain have historically allowed militants to establish camps, store weapons and plan attacks on nearby communities.
Lake Chad, which lies at the intersection of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, has also been identified as a major corridor for insurgent movement. Militants often exploit the vast waterways and remote islands in the area to evade military surveillance.
Ndume warned that the continued presence of insurgents in these locations poses a serious threat to ongoing resettlement efforts and the return of displaced persons in Borno and other North-East states.
He expressed confidence that with sustained political will and coordinated military action, Nigeria could significantly degrade insurgent networks and restore lasting peace to the region. The senator urged the federal government to treat the security situation with urgency, noting that the safety of millions of Nigerians in the North-East depends on decisive action.
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