The Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ndume, has decried the rising wave of killings in the state, warning that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and vigilantes cannot effectively complement the military with only “dane guns and sticks.”

Ndume’s statement followed Friday night’s attack on Darajamal community in Bama Local Government Area, which left 58 civilians and five soldiers dead.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the lawmaker called for the urgent deployment of technology, modern equipment, arms and ammunition, and better motivation for security forces. He also advocated for the establishment of an armed community defence system to support the military.

“In the past few months, several communities in Borno South, North and Central Senatorial Districts have remained under siege by Boko Haram and ISWAP. The situation is worrisome,” Ndume said.

“Let me therefore use this opportunity to advocate for the setting up of armed community defence to complement the efforts of the military. This is because men of the CJTF, hunters, and vigilantes have been doing their best, but they have limitations, as they only carry dane guns and sticks, which makes it very difficult to confront the terrorists.”

The senator urged the Federal Government to prioritise the security, safety, and welfare of Nigerians, reiterating his long-standing call for the deployment of Technology, Equipment, Arms, Ammunition, and Motivation (TEAAM) as the only sustainable way to end over a decade of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

He further appealed to residents to continue cooperating with the military and security agencies, especially by sharing information on the operations of terrorists.

It will be recalled that Governor Babagana Zulum, during a condolence visit to Darajamal on Saturday, lamented the shortage of military manpower and called for the immediate deployment of newly trained forest guards to protect vulnerable communities.