Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has backed the directive by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), ordering troops to shoot terrorists and bandits on sight, insisting that sustained military pressure remains the most effective way to end insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, the Borno South senator also opposed the reintegration of repentant terrorists into society, arguing that anyone who aids criminal groups should be treated as an accomplice.
Ndume said recent military gains across the country indicate that insurgent groups are steadily losing ground, stressing that continued offensives by the Armed Forces would eventually bring an end to the security crisis.
“If the tempo is kept, I’m sure this thing will come to an end,” he said.
The senator 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 strategy is producing results.
“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 remarks come days after Defence Minister General Christopher Musa directed troops on the frontline not to wait for orders before engaging terrorists and bandits. The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s stance against negotiating with terrorists or paying ransom, warning that such concessions only embolden criminal groups and prolong insecurity.
Although Ndume declined to disclose the full details of his meeting with President Tinubu, he said discussions focused on security and the economy, which he described as Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.
According to him, the President demonstrated his commitment to addressing insecurity by holding a 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 noted that military operations have intensified against bandits in the North-West, while sustained offensives in the North-East have led to the neutralisation of insurgent leaders and the surrender of several fighters.
He also acknowledged improvements 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 added.
The lawmaker further welcomed the decision by the 19 Northern governors to establish a regional security trust fund, describing it 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.
On the economy, Ndume urged the Tinubu administration to intensify efforts to ease the hardship facing Nigerians through better coordination of government interventions 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 direct national broadcasts, arguing that regular communication would boost 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.
He disclosed that President Tinubu welcomed his suggestions and agreed that they should hold 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,” Ndume added.
