Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has clarified that a recent statement he made about an attack on former Army Chief Tukur Buratai was misinterpreted.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 9, in Abuja, Ndume explained that he was referring to Buratai town in Biu Local Government Area, not the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), who shares the same name.
The confusion arose following an interview the senator granted on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, where he raised alarm over worsening insecurity in the region.
During the interview, Ndume said, “We are in a dire security situation. Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at the front operations base in Borno. Some soldiers responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets.”
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He added, “The attackers reportedly targeted high-value equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and machine guns.”
Ndume further stated that the insurgents not only destroyed the assets but also escaped with some weapons and equipment.
However, in his Monday statement, he clarified: “It was Buratai town in Borno State that was attacked, not the person of the erstwhile Chief of Army Staff.”
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, who hails from the same Buratai town, served as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021 and played a prominent role in the country’s fight against insurgency.