Former Senate Chief Whip and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called for a stronger United States military presence in Borno State, urging American forces to establish a base in the Mandara Mountains to help eliminate Boko Haram insurgents operating in the region.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, monitored by The News Chronicle on Sunday, Ndume said the United States possesses the technology and military capabilities needed to monitor and dismantle terrorist strongholds across the North-East.
“I am appealing. Let the Americans go to Gwoza and take over the Mandara Mountains, please. It will go a long way in reducing insecurity because they have the technology to monitor those insurgents,” he said.
According to the lawmaker, the strategic location of the Mandara Mountains would enable U.S. forces to monitor insurgent activities in the Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad Basin, and other terrorist enclaves, while disrupting supply routes used by Boko Haram fighters.
Ndume explained that cutting off movement corridors linking Sambisa, Kaga, Buni Yadi, and Gwoza would significantly weaken insurgent operations and reduce their access to support and supplies.
He, however, stressed that such efforts would require adequate manpower and resources, noting that the Nigerian military needs greater support to sustain counter-terrorism operations.
The senator’s remarks come amid ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States. Last month, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that joint counter-terrorism operations conducted with the United States Africa Command led to the killing of 175 ISIS fighters in North-East Nigeria.
