Most Arms Used By Insurgents Were Stolen From The Armed Forces — Sen. Ndume

Senator Ali Ndume has said the bulk of arms and ammunition used
by insurgents were carted away from the armed forces and other
security agencies in the country.

Ndume who represents Borno South noted that apart from stealing
arms from Nigeria’s security agencies, the criminals also get
weapons from nations like Libya and Chad.

“Most of the arms and ammunition they use are the ones they
succeed in carting away from the Nigerian soldiers and other armed
forces or security agencies,” the Chairman, Senate Committee on
Army, explained on Thursday during an interview on Channels
Television’s Politics Today.

“I know they have some small arms coming from up there like
Libya, Chad, and all that but the bulk of the equipment they use
are the ones they succeeded in stealing from our armed forces.”

Nigeria’s security situation appears to have worsened in recent
months despite reassurances from President Muhammadu Buhari and
security agencies.

Banditry and kidnaping are now rife in the West African nation,
further compounding the challenges created by terrorists in the
northeastern part of the nation.

‘Hit-And-Run’
But Ndume says the Nigerian Army is intensifying efforts at riding
the nation of insurgents, adding that the criminals are feeling the
heat from the security agents.

“Most of the insurgents, they do hit-and-run. Sometimes, they do
hit on purpose” the lawmaker added. “Like now, they are trying to
do that because the heat is much from the Nigerian army, the new
army commander is putting heat on them, they are desperate to get
arms and ammunition.”

He also believes the Nigerian Army can do better in tackling the
myriad of security threats facing Nigeria if it is well-funded and
equipped.

“Go and check what Nigeria is spending on militarily and compare
it with that of Chad that is poorer than us, or Niger (Republic),”
Ndume explained.

“Go and see the Nigerian soldiers and the Cameroonian soldiers.
Their kitting is different from our own. It is superior to our own
despite the fact that they are poor because they placed priority on
their security.”

Senator Ali Ndume has said the bulk of arms and ammunition used
by insurgents were carted away from the armed forces and other
security agencies in the country.

Ndume who represents Borno South noted that apart from stealing
arms from Nigeria’s security agencies, the criminals also get
weapons from nations like Libya and Chad.

“Most of the arms and ammunition they use are the ones they
succeed in carting away from the Nigerian soldiers and other armed
forces or security agencies,” the Chairman, Senate Committee on
Army, explained on Thursday during an interview on Channels
Television’s Politics Today.

“I know they have some small arms coming from up there like
Libya, Chad, and all that but the bulk of the equipment they use
are the ones they succeeded in stealing from our armed forces.”

Nigeria’s security situation appears to have worsened in recent
months despite reassurances from President Muhammadu Buhari and
security agencies.

Banditry and kidnaping are now rife in the West African nation,
further compounding the challenges created by terrorists in the
northeastern part of the nation.

‘Hit-And-Run’
But Ndume says the Nigerian Army is intensifying efforts at riding
the nation of insurgents, adding that the criminals are feeling the
heat from the security agents.

“Most of the insurgents, they do hit-and-run. Sometimes, they do
hit on purpose” the lawmaker added. “Like now, they are trying to
do that because the heat is much from the Nigerian army, the new
army commander is putting heat on them, they are desperate to get
arms and ammunition.”

He also believes the Nigerian Army can do better in tackling the
myriad of security threats facing Nigeria if it is well-funded and
equipped.

“Go and check what Nigeria is spending on militarily and compare
it with that of Chad that is poorer than us, or Niger (Republic),”
Ndume explained.

“Go and see the Nigerian soldiers and the Cameroonian soldiers.
Their kitting is different from our own. It is superior to our own
despite the fact that they are poor because they placed priority on
their security.”