Senator Ali Ndume on Thursday threw his public weight behind the Federal Government’s uncompromising stance against terrorists and bandits, saying sustained military pressure—not negotiations or ransom payments—was the country’s best path out of insecurity.
Speaking after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, the Borno South Senator explicitly endorsed comments by Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), who has repeatedly ruled out talks with criminal groups and urged that those who enable them be treated as accomplices.
“If the tempo is kept, I am sure this thing will come to an end,” Ndume told State House Correspondents, citing recent military operations that he said have eliminated senior insurgent leaders, prompted the surrender of several commanders and improved security in parts of the Northeast and Southeast.
“You don’t spare a bandit. You don’t spare a terrorist. Once you identify a terrorist, because if you don’t kill him, he will kill you,” he added.
The Senator’s remarks align with a hard-line view taking shape in Mr. Tinubu’s administration: officials argue that concessions and ransom payments embolden criminal networks, allowing them to regroup and prolong violence.
Ndume said his meeting with President Tinubu focused on security and the economy—the two issues he described as Nigeria’s most urgent challenges.
He said the President demonstrated a hands-on approach by convening the service chiefs before receiving him.
“I had an appointment for 3 p.m., but I had to wait because the president was in a security meeting.
“As you can see, the service chiefs came in. That means the president is sitting up,” Ndume said.
He said military pressure has intensified against bandits in the Northwest, while offensives in the Northeast have led to the neutralisation of insurgent leaders and multiple surrenders.
He also credited security agencies with progress in the Southeast, where violence tied to separatist groups has, in his view, declined markedly.
Senator Ndume welcomed a recent plan by 19 northern Governor to establish a regional security trust fund, calling it a useful complement to federal efforts.
“You don’t leave security entirely to the federal government. If the governors are contributing resources, they should work with existing security institutions,” he said.
On the economy, the Senator urged the Tinubu administration to step up coordination of interventions to ease the cost-of-living pressures facing Nigerians. He recommended that the president communicate more directly with citizens through regular national addresses to bolster public confidence.
“I told Mr. President that he should speak directly to Nigerians. People expect their leader to tell them what is going on instead of leaving others to speak on his behalf,” Ndume said.
He added that PresidentTinubu welcomed the suggestions and agreed to hold regular consultations on national issues, stressing that broad input is needed to tackle the country’s complex challenges.
