Boko Haram Attacks: Ndume Warns Against Religious Profiling, Says Insurgents Disregard All Faiths

By Ugbede James Ankpa

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has cautioned against religious profiling of victims of Boko Haram attacks, stressing that the terror group has no regard for any religion.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ndume lamented that Boko Haram continues to make life unbearable for Nigerians in the North East. His remarks followed the recent attacks in Ngoshe village, Gwoza Local Government Area, and Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area, both in Borno State.

During the two separate incidents, insurgents killed five Muslim farmers last Saturday in Ngoshe and three Christians the following day in Mussa. Media reports also confirmed that dozens of houses were set ablaze during the attacks.

Reacting to an online media report suggesting that all the victims were Christians, the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army condemned the narrative as misleading.

“It is unethical and unconscionable for any media outlet to push the narrative that Christians are the sole targets of these attacks in Borno or anywhere in the North East,” Ndume stated. “The forces behind these senseless killings are blind to faith and ethnicity. Dangerous profiling like this distracts from the real fight and could harm morale among soldiers who are risking their lives to eliminate this deadly sect.”

The senator stressed that ordinary people in the region, simply striving for peace and survival, remain the victims of Boko Haram’s cruelty.

“Our people, whose only desire is to live, farm, and dream, are being cut down by those who thrive on violence and destruction,” he said.

While commending the military for their sustained efforts against the insurgents, Ndume renewed his call on the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare of troops and ensure they are adequately equipped with arms and ammunition to decisively defeat Boko Haram.