Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, warning that ministers, senators and state governors could become the next targets of bandits if decisive action is not taken.
Buratai sounded the alarm on Sunday while reacting to the reported killing of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe in bandits’ captivity, describing the incident as a disturbing sign of the growing audacity and operational capacity of criminal groups across the country.
According to the former army chief, the murder of a senior military officer marks a dangerous escalation in the nation’s security challenges and should serve as a wake-up call to government at all levels.
“If this trend continues unchecked, the next targets may not be soldiers or civilians alone. They could include ministers, senators, and even state governors. No leader will be immune,” Buratai warned.
He said the tragic death of the retired general validates concerns he had previously raised about the long-term threat posed by insurgency and banditry if not confronted with sufficient force and strategic coordination.
Recalling an earlier warning he issued in 2021, Buratai said the country is now witnessing the consequences of years of inadequate response to growing insecurity.
“Today, our nation is witnessing the grim unfolding of that prediction. The capture, torture and eventual killing of a senior military officer, Major General Rabe Abubakar, is not merely a tragedy; it marks a dangerous threshold,” he stated.
The former army chief noted that criminal groups have become increasingly sophisticated, operating with improved intelligence networks, access to advanced weaponry and greater confidence in carrying out attacks.
He argued that the current approach to tackling insecurity has failed to deter criminal elements and called for a major shift in strategy.
“The current reactive strategy, paying ransoms and negotiating with criminals, must end. It is time for a full-scale, coordinated military and intelligence offensive,” Buratai said.
As part of his recommendations, he urged the Federal Government to establish a unified security command structure capable of coordinating all security agencies operating in states most affected by insecurity.
“The Federal Government should establish a unified command with direct authority over all security agencies operating in high-risk states, eliminating bureaucratic delays,” he advised.
Buratai also called for a crackdown on individuals and networks that provide logistical and financial support to bandit groups, insisting that security operations must go beyond armed confrontations to target those enabling criminal activities.
“Bandits do not survive on AK-47s alone. They rely on networks of corrupt middlemen, illegal miners, ransom negotiators and local collaborators. These individuals must be identified, arrested and prosecuted. The cost of supporting terrorism should be made unbearable,” he said.
He stressed that only a coordinated national response involving security agencies, intelligence services and political leadership can prevent further deterioration of the security situation and restore public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.
Buratai’s warning comes amid renewed concerns over escalating attacks by bandits and insurgents in several parts of the country, with security experts increasingly calling for stronger and more coordinated measures to stem the tide of violence.
