Let 200 Deployed American Troops Go To My LGA In Borno – Senator Ndume Seeks Fresh US Airstr!kes Against Terrorists
Let 200 Deployed American Troops Go To My LGA In Borno – Senator Ndume Seeks Fresh US Airstrikes Against Terrorists
The lawmaker, who spoke on Friday during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, said he would support fresh U.S. military airstrikes targeting Boko Haram fighters entrenched in parts of his constituency, particularly around the Mandara Mountains.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, has renewed his call for sustained foreign-backed military offensives in Nigeria’s North-East, insisting that operations against insurgents must continue “until they are all eliminated.”
The lawmaker, who spoke on Friday during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, said he would support fresh U.S. military airstrikes targeting Boko Haram fighters entrenched in parts of his constituency, particularly around the Mandara Mountains.
Ndume said the prolonged occupation of communities by insurgents for over a decade has left residents displaced and unable to return to their ancestral homes and farmlands.
“I called for it. In fact, I was thinking that they will start from my local government. Yes, because the Boko Haram, the issue of you know, have dominated for the past 15 years.
“They have dominated the Mandara Mountain up till now. And we had wanted, and have been calling that there must be consistent and sustained attack until they are all eliminated.
“That’s when our people that are still in the IDP camps, you know, under the mountain, can go back, because there are peoples who still live in the mountains and farm in the mountains, but they have to run away. Boko Haram chase them. There are some of them that are still captives.
“In fact, we want the… I’m speaking for my people, especially my own local government. If the 200 Americans that Nigerians are talking about now don’t have…they are not comfortable, please let them go to my local government and stay and operate from there, our people will be happy.”
“I can move out of my house in Gwoza for they to come over my house for them to stay as long as we will have peace.
“You know what, for the past 16 years I cannot go to my village, especially this time around, no no matter what, even under escort, you don’t risk going from now.”
The senator stressed that his position reflects the desperation of communities that have endured years of violence, displacement and fear. According to him, insurgents have continued to maintain a foothold in the Mandara Mountain region, making it unsafe for civilians to resettle despite repeated military operations.
Ndume argued that only sustained and consistent offensives—rather than intermittent operations—would permanently dislodge the insurgents and create conditions for lasting peace. He said many residents remain in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, while others who attempt to farm in the mountainous terrain are routinely attacked or forced to flee.
The lawmaker maintained that people in Gwoza and surrounding areas would welcome any support capable of restoring security, noting that the inability to safely visit his own village for years underscores the severity of the situation.
His comments come amid renewed debates over foreign military cooperation in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency campaign, as communities in Borno and other parts of the North-East continue to grapple with the lingering threat posed by insurgent groups.
The United States previously carried out an airstrike in Sokoto targeted at terrorists at Tangaza Local Government Area. The strike elicited mixed reactions.
Earlier, SaharaReporters noted that United States Air Force military transport aircraft landed at the Kaduna International Airport, sparking fresh conversations about possible expanded security cooperation between Washington and Abuja.
In a brief update shared by security expert ‘Mobilising Nigerians’, it was stated that “A U.S. Air Force military transport aircraft C30J has landed at Kaduna International Airport after departing from Ghana earlier this evening.”
The arrival of the aircraft has generated interest within defence and security circles, particularly amid Nigeria’s ongoing battle against insurgency, banditry and other transnational security threats affecting the West African sub-region.
According to the update, “The movement is fueling speculation that U.S. personnel may utilize the Kaduna Depot as a potential training hub in collaboration with the Nigerian military,” Mobilising Nigerians, a counter-terrorism handle on X wrote.
While there has been no official statement from either the Nigerian authorities or the U.S. mission clarifying the purpose of the aircraft’s visit, analysts say such movements often signal routine military cooperation, joint exercises or logistics support arrangements.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the United States would deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to provide training and technical support to the country’s armed forces, with both governments stressing that the personnel will not participate in direct combat operations.
The deployment, confirmed on Tuesday by Nigerian and US officials, marks an expansion of military cooperation between Washington and Abuja as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgent and terror groups.
