Army, group faults Ndume’s claim that Boko Haram killed 847 soldiers in Borno alone

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has faulted a claim by the former leader of the Nigerian Senate, Ali Ndume that the Boko Haram terrorist group killed 847 soldiers in Borno State alone, between 2003 till date.

The group said that the claim by Ndume, who currently is the chairman, Senate Committee on Army, was not just mischievous but also diversionary.

In a related development, spokesman of the Nigerian Army spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, is said to have also refuted the claim by the senator and asked him to provide evidence of his claims.

NDF called on the senator to desist from using Boko Haram and substance abuse in the North to divert attention from his “atrocities.”

Ndume had made the claim when he spoke with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, adding that the casualty figure was sourced from military authorities last week.

But reacting in a statement by its secretary-general, Bolaji Abdulkadir, NDF said that Ndume was trying to “shift the goal post.” It said that the senator’s claims and utterances were insensitive and an affront to the sensibilities of families and relatives of those that have been affected by Boko Haram crisis.

“We are constrained to comment in light of the shameful and dishonourable statement credited to Senator Ali Ndume, the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District of Borno State, wherein he mischievously stated that over 847 soldiers had been killed by Boko Haram and buried in Borno cemetery.

“The National Democratic Front wishes to inform members of the general public that Senator Ali Ndume is not one whose perceived contribution to the national discourse should be taken seriously, not even with the fact that he is a Boko Haram sponsor despite the kangaroo judgment he secured from the courts when he was arraigned for terrorism-related offences some time ago.

“Senator Ali Ndume has a long history of substance abuse and we are constrained to believe that his recent utterances might be as a result of the same substance overdose and as such his views on national issues should be viewed with a pinch of salt.

“The National Democratic Front views his utterances as insensitive, and an affront to the sensibilities of those whose families and relatives have been affected in one way or the other by the Boko Haram crisis.

“It is also an affront on the constituted authorities, especially the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who have toiled day and night in the past ten years to bring the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram terrorist to an end.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, is said to have also refuted the claim by the senator and asked him to provide evidence of the killings.

Musa, who admitted to not having an accurate count of the number of soldiers killed in the ongoing war against insurgents in the country, however, faulted Ndume’s claim.