Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has warned Nigerians not to engage in religious profiling following renewed Boko Haram attacks in the state. He stressed that the insurgents target people regardless of their faith.
The senator issued the warning on Wednesday after recent attacks on Ngoshe village in Gwoza Local Government Area and Mussa community in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
Over the weekend, eight people were killed in the attacks. Five Muslim farmers were murdered in Ngoshe, while three Christian youths were killed in Mussa. The insurgents also burned houses and shops during the assaults.
Ndume described the killings as “heartbreaking and deeply painful,” while paying tribute to soldiers of Operation Hadin Kai for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
He pledged to push for stronger security measures, including more personnel, better weapons, and improved intelligence, to protect rural communities. He also urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies.
According to report obtained by The News Chronicle, Ndume condemned an online media report that claimed all the victims were Christians, calling the report false, unethical, and dangerous.
“The forces behind these killings do not care about religion or tribe,” he said. “This kind of profiling can divide us, weaken our soldiers’ morale, and cause more harm than good.”
The senator, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, also called on the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare of soldiers and provide them with adequate weapons to defeat Boko Haram once and for all.
