Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retired), has proposed a temporary lockdown of Nigeria’s borders as a strategy to combat the country’s escalating insecurity, similar to the measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program aired on Friday, Buratai emphasized that allowing insurgency to persist poses a grave threat to national stability. He called for increased investment in long-term strategies to tackle the security crisis.
According to the former army chief, a lasting solution requires strong community resilience, which can be achieved through collaboration among political, traditional, and religious leaders.
Buratai, who served as army chief under former President Muhammadu Buhari, reiterated that he had previously warned about the protracted nature of insurgency in Nigeria. He stressed the importance of a strategic, long-term approach in addressing the threat.
He also urged the public to view the Nigerian military as part of the solution to insecurity rather than a barrier, noting its central role in national defense.
On the contentious issue of state policing, Buratai acknowledged its potential benefits but warned against possible misuse by politicians to target their opponents. He noted that for state police to be a viable and enduring solution, mechanisms must be put in place to prevent political interference.
