Boko Haram: We shouldn’t live with impression that we are overwhelmed ― Senator Ndume

Senator representing Borno South and Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume has said it would be defeatist for the Nigerian government and the people to live with the impression that they have been overwhelmed by the terror group, Boko Haram.

He made the submission, on Tuesday, while speaking with journalists shortly after presenting a Bill on the
establishment of Federal College of Education Gwoza, Borno State, which passed second reading on the floor of the Senate.

Senator Ndume who equally alerted the nation of the resurgence of the Boko Haram in the North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, however, maintained that the untoward activities of the group were not enough to tag the zone as ineligible for federal presence particularly in the area of education.

He said his home state had existed without a higher institution of learning despite its size and population.

He said: “Last week 30 soldiers were killed in Mainok on the highway.

Yesterday (Monday) just 30km from Maiduguri, the town was overrun by Boko Haram. It took the concerted effort of the armed forces but we lost a major and two soldiers. In Rann Local Government, the same thing happened.

“The problem we are facing in Borno and, to some extent, in Yobe and Adamawa, is that the insurgency is resurging again and that is a matter of concern.

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“Part of the solution is not to give up and not to show the insurgents that Nigerians are overwhelmed but to show that despite their terrorist acts and their stance against western education, more institutions would be established.”

He said the proposed Federal College of Education, to be located in Gwoza, Borno State would bring quality change in education by focusing on teacher education through teaching and learning innovations.

He said the college also “seeks to provide and promote sound basic Education training as a foundation for the development of Nigeria, taking into account indigenous culture and the need to enhance national unity.

“It may also interest you to know that the establishment of this College would be an addition to the only existing higher institution (University of Maiduguri) in the state.

“The enactment of this Bill will help not only in transforming the decayed educational infrastructures in Nigeria but also help in the development of the hitherto devastated North East Region of the Country,” he added.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

 

Boko Haram: We shouldn’t live with impression that we are overwhelmed