From Victor Osula, Abuja
Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has refuted reports claiming that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), narrowly escaped an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
Reacting to the reports on Tuesday, Ndume described the narrative as a misrepresentation of his comments during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Sunday.
In a statement personally signed, the former Senate Chief Whip clarified that it was Buratai town—not the former army chief—that was attacked by insurgents.
“It was Buratai town in Borno State that was attacked, not the person of the erstwhile Chief of Army Staff,” Ndume stated.
He called on journalists to exercise caution in their reportage, stressing the importance of accuracy, especially when dealing with politically exposed persons and sensitive security issues.
“Even two days ago, Buratai (town) was attacked in front of the operations base in Borno. The soldiers stood their ground, but the attackers still managed to destroy some assets.
“These days, they burn assets like Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), tanks, and heavy-duty machine guns. Sometimes, they even steal the equipment,” he explained.
Ndume raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the region and across the country.
“The situation is getting terrible in Borno. It is bad in all six geo-political zones except the South-West. Even in the South-South, we are battling economic sabotage like oil theft. The South-West remains the only relatively safe region,” he added.
Expressing surprise at the confusion, he said, “I am surprised that the name Buratai could be misconstrued as referring to General Buratai, who, incidentally, hails from the town.”
