A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), has said Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity by depending only on the military, warning that such an approach could weaken long-term stability.
According to a post shared on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama, Buratai in a recent interview on Channels Television, advocated for a “whole-of-society approach.”
He argued that the fight against insurgent groups, such as Boko Haram, must involve every sector of the country rather than being treated as a task solely for soldiers.
Buratai pointed out that while troops have remained consistent in their field operations across various flashpoints, their efforts must be backed by improved governance, economic growth, and social programs from other government institutions and stakeholders.
According to him, although troops have continued operations in affected areas, efforts from government agencies, communities and other sectors are needed through governance, development and social programmes.
The whole country is over-relying on the military,” he said, noting that several agencies and tiers of government have specific responsibilities in tackling insecurity.
The former army chief recalled that Nigeria’s National Security Strategy 2019 had already provided a broad plan that includes economic, social and infrastructure-based solutions.
However, he questioned whether the strategy has been consistently implemented over time.
He pointed out that ending insurgency goes beyond combat, adding that issues such as unemployment, poverty and poor infrastructure contribute to instability.
According to Buratai, the keys to defeating insurgency lie in fixing the root causes of unrest, such as poverty, unemployment, and the lack of basic amenities. He specifically mentioned that the dilapidated state of roads in conflict zones is a major setback for the military.
He explained that poor infrastructure not only slows down the movement of troops but also makes them easy targets for ambush and hidden explosives.
“In some instances, an operation that should take two hours could take up to five hours due to bad roads,” he said, adding that such delays create opportunities for insurgents to plant explosives and stage ambushes.
He noted that improving infrastructure, especially roads, would boost military effectiveness and reduce risks faced by personnel in the field.
Buratai also urged state governments to take stronger steps in addressing the root causes of insecurity by focusing on youth development.
He said engaging young people through job creation, skills training, and economic empowerment is important in preventing their involvement in violent activities.
Speaking on the issue of revealing alleged sponsors of terrorism, Buratai said the priority should be taking action rather than making names public.
“It is not just about naming names; what is important is taking action,” he said, while expressing concern that some individuals linked to insurgency have not yet been prosecuted.
He maintained that tackling insecurity in Nigeria requires continuous cooperation between the military, government bodies and the wider society.
Buratai added that it is still possible for the country to fully adopt the whole-of-society approach in order to achieve lasting peace and stability.
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