Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, has sounded an alarm about Nigeria's deteriorating security landscape. Unless urgent action is taken now, he warned, the situation will get worse.
Political leaders face real danger, according to Buratai. Ministers, senators, and governors could soon become targets for bandits and armed groups, he cautioned.
Buratai made these statements in a document titled "A frank and patriotic advice on Nigeria's escalating security crisis." The warning came after reports of the abduction and murder of senior military officer Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar.
When a high-ranking general falls to non-state actors, it's a troubling sign. "It signals a serious erosion of tactical deterrence," Buratai noted in his statement.
He painted a grim picture of what lies ahead. "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 warned.
Buratai identified a critical weakness in Nigeria's approach to fighting crime. Criminal networks don't survive on weapons alone, he emphasized.
Support systems keep these gangs operating, the retired general explained. Illegal miners, ransom negotiators, and local informants all play crucial roles in sustaining bandit operations.
He called for action against these enablers. "Bandits depend on support networks that must be identified, dismantled, and prosecuted," Buratai stated.
State governors need to step up their efforts, according to the former army chief. Stronger investment in state police initiatives, vetted vigilante groups, and community intelligence networks could help turn the tide.
Better protection for public officials is also necessary, he noted. Intelligence sharing and counter-ambush measures should be strengthened across all levels.
But breaking the criminal ecosystem fueling insecurity nationwide should be the real goal. Anything less falls short of what Nigeria needs right now.
Describing himself as a patriot with no political agenda, Buratai urged swift action. "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.
Continuing with the status quo invites catastrophe, he argued. Senior political leaders' abduction isn't inevitable yet—but it could become likely if Nigeria doesn't change course.
Buratai ended with a solemn call to leadership. Maj.-Gen.
Abubakar's death should be "the last preventable sacrifice" in Nigeria's fight against insecurity.
