Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has raised urgent concerns over critical ammunition shortages affecting Nigerian troops in Borno State, warning that frontline soldiers are increasingly struggling against insurgent attacks.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, revealed that troops were recently forced to withdraw from Ngoshe and Pulka communities after sustained insurgent assaults due to insufficient ammunition. Reinforcements later helped reclaim the areas, but the destruction left behind was severe.
“I am calling on the federal government to double its efforts in equipping the Army with sophisticated arms and ammunition,” Ndume said. “The lack of adequate resources has left soldiers overwhelmed and communities exposed.”
The senator highlighted the destruction in Ngoshe, describing it as almost total, with only a small mosque remaining intact. He urged immediate federal intervention to strengthen military capacity, provide logistical support, and protect vulnerable communities.
Ndume’s warning comes amid escalating violence in the region. Last Monday, coordinated bomb attacks in Maiduguri killed 23 people and injured 108 others. Explosions targeted the Maiduguri Monday Market, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital gate, and Post Office Flyover, spreading panic across the city.
Authorities, including the Borno State Police Command, the military, and emergency agencies, quickly responded to secure the scenes, conduct sweeps for additional threats, and evacuate victims to medical facilities. Security has since been heightened across Maiduguri to prevent further incidents, and normalcy has largely returned.
The ongoing attacks underscore the urgent need to reinforce troops and improve operational readiness as insurgents continue to pose a significant threat to communities in Borno State.
