Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has raised concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, warning that political office holders, including ministers, senators and state governors, could become targets of bandits and insurgents if urgent action is not taken.
Buratai issued the warning in a statement titled, “A Frank and Patriotic Advice on Nigeria’s Escalating Security Crisis,” following reports surrounding the abduction and killing of senior military officer, Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar.
According to the former army chief, the killing of a senior military officer by non-state actors represents a dangerous escalation in the country’s security challenges and should serve as a wake-up call for authorities at all levels.
“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,” Buratai said.
The retired general recalled that in 2021, he had predicted that insurgency and banditry could persist for up to two decades if decisive measures were not adopted, noting that recent developments appear to be validating those concerns.
Buratai urged the Federal Government to acknowledge the limitations of its current security strategy, arguing that criminal groups now operate with sophisticated intelligence capabilities, heavy weaponry and growing confidence that increasingly challenges state authority.
He called for an end to negotiations with bandits and insurgents, advocating instead for a comprehensive military and intelligence offensive against terrorist and criminal networks across the country.
According to him, coordinated military operations conducted between 2015 and 2019 demonstrated that sustained pressure could significantly weaken insurgent groups and reduce their operational capabilities.
The former Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin Republic also proposed the establishment of a National Emergency Command with direct authority over all security agencies operating in high-risk areas.
He said such a structure would eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, improve coordination among security agencies and strengthen operational effectiveness.
“Insecurity is no longer a regional problem; it is a national emergency,” he said, adding that the proposed command should report directly to the President and be given a clear mandate to dismantle terrorist and bandit strongholds.
Buratai further stressed the need to identify and prosecute financiers and collaborators who sustain criminal networks, including illegal miners, ransom negotiators and local informants.
“Bandits do not survive on weapons alone. They depend on support networks that must be identified, dismantled and prosecuted,” he stated.
The former army chief also challenged state governors to play a more active role in addressing insecurity by supporting state-level policing initiatives, strengthening vetted vigilante groups and integrating community intelligence systems into broader security frameworks.
While calling for enhanced protection of public officials through improved intelligence sharing and counter-ambush measures, Buratai maintained that the ultimate goal should be the dismantling of the criminal ecosystem driving insecurity across the country.
Describing himself as a patriot with no political agenda, he urged leaders at all levels to act decisively before the situation deteriorates further.
“If we do not radically change our approach today, the headlines of tomorrow may make today’s tragedy seem like only a warning,” he said.
Buratai added that while the abduction of senior political leaders is not inevitable, it could become a realistic threat if authorities continue with what he described as “business as usual.”
He called on government authorities to ensure that the death of Maj.-Gen. Abubakar becomes “the last preventable sacrifice” in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against insecurity.
