Buratai Calls for State of Emergency on Poverty, Says Nigeria Cannot Defeat Terrorism With Guns Alone
Buratai Calls for State of Emergency on Poverty, Says Nigeria Cannot Defeat Terrorism With Guns Alone
By Matthew Eloyi
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism will remain incomplete without addressing poverty, unemployment, poor governance and other socio-economic conditions that fuel extremist recruitment.
Buratai, who made the remarks at the public presentation of a new book, Beyond Military Force: A Strategy for Countering Terrorism in Nigeria, in Lagos on Friday, called for a national strategy that combines military operations with effective governance, community participation, economic empowerment and regional security cooperation.
He specifically advocated a state of emergency on poverty in Northern Nigeria, arguing that the region’s socio-economic challenges, particularly out-of-school children, youth unemployment and the Almajiri system, required urgent and coordinated government intervention.
The former army chief, who served between 2015 and 2021, maintained that while military force remained essential in confronting terrorist groups, it could not independently deliver sustainable peace without addressing the underlying factors that made communities vulnerable to extremist ideologies.
“Military force, however professional, is a shield, not a substitute for governance. It can create the conditions for peace, but it cannot by itself build peace.
“It can degrade a terrorist group; it cannot alone remove the grievances of poverty, ignorance and manipulation from which such groups recruit,” he said.
Buratai, who was Guest of Honour at the event, also stressed the importance of rebuilding public confidence in security agencies, identifying community-based intelligence gathering as a critical requirement for successful counter-insurgency operations.
According to him, security agencies cannot achieve meaningful results without the trust and cooperation of the communities they are deployed to protect.
“No amount of firepower can compensate for poor intelligence. The community is often the best source of intelligence, but only when the community trusts the security agencies,” he stated.
He cautioned that human rights violations during military operations could undermine public confidence, alienate local communities and provide terrorist organisations with propaganda opportunities to attract new recruits.
The retired general disclosed that the Nigerian Army reviewed its rules of engagement during his tenure to strengthen compliance with human rights standards, while introducing human rights desks and other accountability mechanisms.
He equally called for stronger counter-terrorism capacity within the Nigeria Police Force, warning against the continued deployment of the military to perform responsibilities traditionally assigned to civilian security institutions.
“The military is not the police; it is not the social welfare agency; it is not the school system. When the military is deployed to perform tasks that belong to civil authorities, it becomes overstretched, and the roots of the conflict remain untouched,” he said.
On the controversial issue of negotiating with terrorists, Buratai acknowledged that dialogue could form part of a broader conflict-resolution strategy but insisted that rehabilitation and reintegration programmes must not compromise justice for victims.
He argued that deradicalisation initiatives should be transparent, properly monitored and community-based, with affected communities assured that justice had been served.
Drawing from his experience as commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force headquartered in N’Djamena, Chad, Buratai also advocated stronger regional collaboration, noting that terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram and its affiliates, operated across national borders.
He called for enhanced cooperation among countries within the Lake Chad Basin, as well as through the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union.
Highlighting findings from the book, Buratai disclosed that field surveys conducted across Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory showed overwhelming support for approaches that extend beyond military intervention.
He said 86 per cent of respondents believed negotiation could be helpful in addressing terrorism, while 92 per cent agreed that community members could make significant contributions to intelligence gathering.
Similarly, 84 per cent linked terrorist recruitment to poor economic conditions and the Almajiri situation.
Buratai said the findings reinforced the argument that counter-terrorism was not merely a contest of military strength but also a struggle to secure public confidence, legitimacy and cooperation.
Earlier, the author, Dr. Joan Ugo Mbagwu, a Professor of Peace, Criminology and Security Studies at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said the book was written to expand national understanding of counter-terrorism beyond the conventional reliance on military force.
She advocated greater investment in deradicalisation, negotiation, socio-economic development and partnerships involving government institutions, local communities and civil society organisations.
Mbagwu explained that her professional experience in peacebuilding, conflict resolution and security studies informed the research and recommendations contained in the publication.
She disclosed that she had conducted research for the Ford Foundation and the Institute for Development Studies, and served as a Process Evaluator for the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund in Africa.
The book was formally unveiled by retired Major General R.O. Yusuf, while Olubunmi Ajala, Chairman of the occasion, commended Buratai for his commitment to security-related issues and described the publication as a timely contribution to Nigeria’s search for lasting solutions to insecurity.
The event also featured the presentation of an award of appreciation to Buratai in recognition of his contributions to the fight against terrorism during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
The publication, Beyond Military Force: A Strategy for Countering Terrorism in Nigeria, is expected to contribute to ongoing national debates on the need for a comprehensive security framework that integrates military action, good governance, economic development and sustainable peacebuilding.
