Borno South Elders Back Ndume On Slain Troops

The Borno South Concerned Elders (BSCE) has defended the position of the Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Sen. Ali Ndume that there are evidential proofs of 847 slain soldiers buried at military cemetery in Borno State.

The group similarly faulted claims by the Amnesty International of a hidden mass burial, even as it condemned what it called the unwarranted attack and spurious allegations targeted at Sen. Ndume over his recent disclosure on the 847 slain soldiers.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Army had revealed that the committee discovered during its recent fact-finding mission to the northeast that 847soldiers had lost their lives and buried at military cemetery in the state, adding that there was no evidence of any secret mass burial as claimed by some organization working in the region.

However, the disclosure generated different reactions, including a rebuttal by the Army spokesmant. Also, Ndume was viciously attacked by a group that called itself National Democratic Front (NDF) who described Ndume’s revelations as an attempt  to divert attention from “his dishonourable contributions to Boko Haram.”

The group described the attacks on Ndume as “misplaced and unconscionable.”

It maintained that figures quoted by the Senator are clearly written on the roll-call of dead at the said military cemetery as factual proofs of the claim dating back to 2013.

Ndume had also said that the disclosure “was meant to elicit greater attention and support for the armed forces, especially now that the budget 2020 is under consideration, adding that there are more sensitive discoveries that would compel urgent legislative intervention in terms of funding to immediately strengthen the armed forces in order to consolidate the gains of the present administration’s fight against insurgency.

Chairman of the Borno South Concerned Elders, Alhaji Yakubu Kwanyang, in a statement, Sunday in Abuja described as unfortunate comments credited to one Dr. Bolaji Abdulkadir of the National Democratic Front, “who rather than addressing the substance of the committee’s findings resorted to “name-calling and spurious accusations.”

“Our initial reaction was to ignore the unwarranted invectives since it is clear that the author is largely ignorant of the situations in Borno and the role Sen. Ali Ndume has played and still playing to restore hope and better the lots of our people.

“While we appreciate honest and constructive criticism of public officers, especially the elected ones, we consider it irresponsible for anyone or group to engage in falsehood by making disparaging statement that impinges on the integrity of Senator Ali Ndume and the institution of the Senate. 

Reacting further, the statement read: “On Wednesday 16th October 2019, an attention-seeking forum by the name National Democratic Front (NDF) made a press conference accusing Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume of in their words ‘diverting the world’s attention from his dishonorable contribution to Boko Haram insurgency.’ “This was as a result of Senator Ndume’s claim a day earlier that about 847 soldiers were lost in the fight against insurgency since 2013.

“For the record, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume led a combined committee of Army of the Senate and House of Representatives on oversight tour of military formations to Borno on 10 and 11th October 2019.

“This was in preparation for the 2020 budget defence before the National Assembly. Places visited by the joint committees included the military cemetery where names of slain heroes are on display. It is a public place where people go to offer prayers to the souls of fallen heroes.

“What Senator Ndume said was what he saw. His statement was in sympathy and support for Armed Forces as they sacrificed their comfort and lay their lives for the nation.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG