Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has cautioned against religious profiling in the wake of renewed Boko Haram attacks in the state, stressing that the terror group does not discriminate based on faith.

The lawmaker issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday following assaults on Ngoshe village in Gwoza Local Government Area and Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

Over the weekend, at least eight people were killed in the attacks. Five Muslim farmers were murdered in Ngoshe on Saturday, while three Christian youths were killed the next day in Mussa, where homes and shops were also set ablaze.

Describing the violence as “heartbreaking and deeply painful,” Ndume paid tribute to the sacrifices of troops under Operation Hadin Kai and pledged to continue pressing for more security personnel, better weapons, and improved intelligence to protect rural communities. He also urged locals to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces.

The senator, who is a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, condemned a report by an online outlet which claimed that all the victims were Christians, calling it “unethical and unconscionable.”

“The forces behind these mindless killings are blind to faith and tribe. We should avoid this dangerous profiling, which can distract us and do us more harm,” Ndume said. “It can even inflame negative passion in our soldiers and dampen the morale of men who toil day and night to defeat this dangerous sect.”

He further lamented the plight of civilians caught in the insurgency: “Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, continue to fall victim to the cruelty of insurgents. These men and women deserved to live, to farm and to dream, but their lives are being cut short by those who thrive on violence and destruction.”

While commending the military for sustaining pressure on the insurgents, Ndume reiterated his call on the Federal Government to prioritise the welfare of troops and provide adequate arms and ammunition to decisively end the insurgency.