Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has called on the federal government to take decisive action against terror financiers, emphasizing that the military alone cannot eradicate insurgents in Nigeria.
Buratai stated that merely identifying those funding terrorism is insufficient to tackle the country’s security challenges. In March 2024, the government revealed 15 entities—nine individuals and six bureau de change operators—allegedly involved in terrorism financing, but there has been little update on prosecutions despite public concern.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Buratai said: “We over-rely on the military and the army; everybody has their own responsibility. You cannot expect the army to be responsible for naming the financiers of terror. The government knows the sources and has the agencies to act, but action must follow identification.”
He explained that the military’s role is constitutionally limited, while broader policy decisions, including the rehabilitation of repentant insurgents, fall under government authority.
Describing Nigeria’s insurgency as complex and deeply rooted, Buratai warned that it cannot be solved quickly or solely through military force.
“Our focus has often been on the army to clear, dismantle, and wipe out all insurgents, but insurgency is embedded within society and requires everyone’s effort. It would be wishful thinking to believe it can be cleared overnight,” he said.
Addressing claims of Boko Haram’s “technical defeat,” Buratai acknowledged that while attacks have significantly reduced since 2015 and territories were reclaimed, the threat persists. He recalled widespread bombings from Maiduguri to Abuja at the height of the insurgency, with major reductions by late 2016 and recovered local government areas.
“I warned that this problem could last longer than expected. It is not just a military responsibility,” he said, citing ongoing challenges in the north-east and north-west, including poor infrastructure, difficult terrain, and ungoverned spaces.
Buratai stressed that lasting peace requires sustained investment in development—roads, rail, social services, and job creation—to address the root causes of instability. He added that while the military has made progress and is not overwhelmed, operational challenges remain, such as limited manpower and equipment across vast terrains.
“I don’t see the insurgency as overwhelming the troops. We are managing, but we need more enablers like drones and additional platforms. The landmass is enormous, and troops are widely spread,” he said.
The former army chief concluded that enduring security depends not only on military operations but also on coordinated government action and societal involvement in tackling the drivers of insurgency.
