Sokoto Bombing: Ndume Mentions Next Place US Missile Should Hit in Northern Nigeria
- Borno South senator, Ali Ndume, has urged the federal government to expand its ongoing military cooperation and operations with the US to the northeast
- The high-ranking senator made the call while reacting to the joint operation between Nigeria and the US that targeted ISIS in the Tangaza LGA of Sokoto state
- Senator Ndume explained that extending the operation to the northeast will weaken the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups in the region
Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno South Senatorial District and former Senate Leader, has called on the federal government to extend its ongoing joint military cooperation and operations with the United States to the North-East, adding that terrorist groups have consistently posed threats to the region.
The outspoken senator made the call on Saturday, December 27, while throwing his weight behind the recent airstrike against the cell of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Source: Twitter
Trump speaks on US operation in Nigeria
The United States President, Donald Trump, first disclosed the operation in a post on social media, where he framed the strikes as retaliation for what he described as the killing of Christians by Islamic State militants “at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries”.
The remarks immediately triggered concern within Nigeria, with critics questioning whether the operation breached the country’s sovereignty and whether Abuja had authorised the attack.
President Trump also said he personally ordered the delay of a planned US airstrike against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria. The US president said that he made the order so it could be carried out around Christmas, describing the military operation as a “Christmas present”.
Ndume reacts to US military operation in Nigeria
Ndume, who was a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, explained that extending the Nigeria-US operation to the North-East would weaken Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) significantly.
His statement reads in part:
“I am calling on both governments to extend it to the North-East, where ISWAP and Boko Haram maintain three major strongholds, Lake Chad, the Mandara Mountains and the Sambisa Forest.”
The Borno lawmaker also called for a deeper military collaboration between Nigeria and the US, which included the sharing of intelligence, support for logistics attack helicopters should be deployed to support the troops on the ground.
He then commended President Bola Tinubu for his budget allocation on defence in the 2026 budget, adding that it is the highest so far. He also called for transparency and accountability in the execution of the budget.
Senator Ndume also reacted to the recent bombing of a mosque in Gambiru in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, where he expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. The attack claimed five lives, and several people were injured.
Source: Twitter
Analyst speaks on Nigeria's insecurity challenges
Speaking on the state of insecurity in an interview with Legit.ng, Omotayo Yusuf, a political commentator, posited that the bulk of the decision lies in the hands of the president, who swore to protect the lives of every Nigerian. He said:
"The box still falls on the table of the president, who is the commander in chief of the armed forces, saddled with the responsibility of protecting the sacrosanct lives of all Nigerians. So, it is up to hìm since he has sworn an oath of allegiance to protect Nigerians when he came into office."
Airstrike in Nigeria: Pentagon says more to come
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the United States Department of War has publicly thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation following recent US air strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in north-west Nigeria, while warning that further military action may follow.
The message, issued after President Donald Trump authorised the operation, signals deepening security coordination between Washington and Abuja under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Source: Legit.ng
