Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has expressed fresh concerns over evolving tactics used by insurgents in Borno State, revealing that explosives used in recent attacks in Maiduguri were transported using tricycles, popularly known as ‘Keke NAPEP’.
The attacks, which occurred on Monday, left 23 people dead and 108 others injured after explosions hit a market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office flyover.
Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday night, Ndume described the insurgents’ approach as calculated and increasingly dangerous.
“What they do is hit and run. They gather, share information among themselves, and most dangerously, they also get information from some citizens. They have informants within society,” he said.
“You can imagine, even the bomb that exploded was delivered by a Keke NAPEP. This is not something new; they package it and use people in Keke NAPEP to deliver it to specific spots.”
The lawmaker warned that intelligence gaps continue to undermine counter-insurgency efforts, noting that attackers now operate with growing boldness.
“The problem is a lack of adequate intelligence,” he said, adding, “You can imagine that bandits and terrorists in Nigeria now have the audacity to record their atrocities on TikTok and send them out.”
Ndume questioned the effectiveness of surveillance systems, suggesting that security agencies should be able to track insurgents just as they monitor public figures.
“If I can be monitored, what stops the security and intelligence agencies from getting information about the whereabouts and the activities of the terrorists?” he queried.
He also criticised the government’s response, saying efforts have not matched the scale of the threat.
“The government, I must say, are not walking the talk,” he said.
“The security agencies and soldiers up till now still do not have the training, equipment, ammunition and motivation.”
While acknowledging the commitment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ndume called for more decisive action focused on security and citizens’ welfare.
“You need to abandon everything and concentrate on security and welfare of citizens… even if that amounts to shutting down the government, let it be done,” he said.
He stressed that troops require adequate support, including air cover, to effectively combat insurgents.
“They can’t do it with bare hands. They can’t do it without air support if the ground troops are going to face the enemies.”
Referencing a recent military operation in Malam Fatori, where troops of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly killed dozens of insurgents, Ndume said the success underscored the importance of coordinated support.
“You could see from Malam Fatori that there was adequate air cover… and the military did what they needed to do and they were successful,” he said.
“If we continue like that consistently, this thing can be done in less than six months.”
The senator also welcomed reported support from the United States, urging authorities to ensure that intelligence assistance and training translate into tangible results.
“Now that the American government has agreed to give us intelligence support and training, let us see it working,” he added.
