Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, warning that top political office holders, including ministers, governors and senators, could become targets of bandits and insurgents if urgent action is not taken.
Buratai issued the warning in a statement on Sunday while reacting to the killing of a senior military officer, Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, describing the incident as a dangerous escalation in the country’s security crisis.
According to him, the killing of a general by non-state actors signals a significant breakdown in the nation’s security architecture and a weakening of deterrence against criminal elements.
“When a general falls into the hands of non-state actors, it signals a serious erosion of tactical deterrence. If this trend continues unchecked, the next targets may not be soldiers or civilians alone; they could include ministers, senators and even state governors,” he said.
The former army chief noted that he had as far back as 2021 warned that insurgency and banditry could persist for decades without decisive and sustained intervention, adding that recent developments appear to confirm his earlier fears.
Buratai called on the Federal Government to reassess its current security strategy, arguing that criminal groups have evolved, now deploying sophisticated intelligence networks, advanced weaponry and coordinated operations that increasingly challenge state authority.
He criticised the continued practice of negotiating with bandits, urging authorities to adopt a more aggressive and comprehensive military and intelligence-driven approach to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks.
The retired general also proposed the establishment of a National Emergency Command to coordinate all security operations in high-risk areas, stressing that such a structure should report directly to the President to eliminate bureaucratic delays and enhance operational efficiency.
“Insecurity is no longer a regional issue; it is a national emergency requiring unified command and decisive leadership,” he said.
Buratai further emphasised the need to target financiers and collaborators sustaining criminal activities, including illegal miners, ransom negotiators and local informants.
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“Bandits do not survive on weapons alone. They rely on support systems that must be identified, dismantled and prosecuted,” he added.
He also urged state governors to take greater responsibility in addressing insecurity by strengthening local policing structures, supporting vetted vigilante groups and improving community-based intelligence gathering.
While advocating enhanced protection for public officials through improved intelligence sharing and counter-ambush strategies, Buratai stressed that the ultimate goal must be the total dismantling of the networks driving insecurity across the country.
He warned that failure to act decisively could worsen the crisis.
“If we do not radically change our approach, tomorrow’s headlines may make today’s tragedy seem like only a warning,” he said.
Buratai concluded by urging authorities to ensure that the death of Maj.-Gen. Abubakar becomes the last preventable loss in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against insecurity.
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