Ministers, Governors May Become Targets If Insecurity Worsens, Buratai Warns

Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has warned that Nigeria’s escalating security crisis could deteriorate further if urgent and decisive action is not taken, cautioning that top political office holders may soon become targets of bandits and insurgents.

Buratai made the remarks in a statement titled “A Frank and Patriotic Advice on Nigeria’s Escalating Security Crisis,” following reports surrounding the abduction and death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar while in captivity.

According to the retired military officer, the killing of a senior army general by non-state actors represents a dangerous escalation in the country’s security challenges and should serve as a wake-up call for authorities.

“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 warned.

The former Nigerian ambassador to the Benin recalled that in 2021 he predicted insurgency and banditry could persist for up to two decades if drastic measures were not implemented. He said recent developments appear to validate those concerns.

Buratai urged the Federal Government to reassess its current security strategy, arguing that criminal groups now possess sophisticated intelligence capabilities, advanced weaponry and increasing operational confidence.

He called for an end to negotiations with bandits and terrorist groups, insisting that a comprehensive military and intelligence offensive remains the most effective response.

According to him, military operations conducted between 2015 and 2019 demonstrated that sustained pressure could significantly weaken insurgent networks.

The retired general also proposed the establishment of a National Emergency Command with direct authority over all security agencies operating in conflict-prone areas. He said such a structure should report directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and be empowered to coordinate rapid responses without bureaucratic delays.

Buratai further stressed the importance of dismantling support networks that sustain criminal groups, including financiers, illegal miners, informants and ransom negotiators.

He also urged state governors to strengthen local security initiatives, support vetted vigilante groups and improve intelligence gathering at the community level.

Describing himself as a patriot with no political ambition, Buratai called on leaders to act decisively before insecurity reaches an even more dangerous level across the country.