By Opeyemi Adelakun
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has issued a strong warning over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, saying that governors, ministers, and senators could soon become direct targets of armed groups if urgent steps are not taken.
Buratai made the warning in a statement on Sunday following the killing of Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, describing the incident as a disturbing indication that the country’s security system is under severe strain.
He said the killing of a senior military officer by non-state actors shows a serious breakdown in national deterrence and signals a growing boldness among criminal groups operating across the country.
According to him, the development reflects an alarming shift in the security landscape, where even highly protected individuals are no longer beyond reach.
Buratai warned that if the trend continues unchecked, the safety of top political office holders could no longer be guaranteed.
He stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges have evolved beyond isolated incidents, noting that armed groups are now more coordinated, better equipped, and increasingly strategic in their operations.
The retired general recalled that he had earlier cautioned that insurgency and banditry could become prolonged threats without sustained and decisive intervention.
He urged the Federal Government to urgently reassess its security strategy, arguing that current approaches are no longer sufficient to counter the sophistication of criminal networks.
Buratai also faulted ongoing negotiations with armed groups, insisting that such practices risk strengthening their operational confidence and prolonging insecurity.
He called for a comprehensive, intelligence-driven national security framework focused on dismantling the financial and logistical structures supporting criminal activities.
He further proposed the creation of a centralized National Emergency Security Command to coordinate nationwide operations, especially in high-risk regions, with direct reporting lines to the presidency for faster response.
Buratai emphasized that insecurity has now reached a level that demands emergency national coordination rather than fragmented responses.
He also urged authorities to target collaborators and sponsors of criminal activities, including illegal miners, informants, and other enablers sustaining armed groups.
State governments, he added, must strengthen local intelligence networks, improve community policing structures, and properly regulate vigilante groups to support security operations.
While calling for improved protection of public officials, Buratai insisted that the ultimate priority must be the total dismantling of criminal networks across the country.
He warned that failure to act decisively could lead to even more severe security breaches in the near future.
Buratai urged authorities to ensure that the death of Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar becomes the last preventable loss in the ongoing fight against insecurity.
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