Buratai: Insurgency Fight Incomplete Without Citizens’ Full Participation
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.), says Nigeria’s battle against insurgency cannot be won by the military alone unless citizens recognise that the war is equally theirs to fight.
Buratai stated this on Saturday at the 18th Annual International Security Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Institute of Security, Nigeria, held at the University of Lagos.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, the former Army chief said the public often misunderstands the nature of insurgency, stressing that the threat operates within communities and cannot be defeated through military action alone.
“What most people fail to understand is that insurgency is the people’s war. It’s not only the military in the people’s war,” he said. “You’d be surprised that amongst us here, there may be one or two bandits or Boko Haram members.”
Buratai, who led Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations at the height of the Boko Haram conflict, reflected on improvements recorded between 2015 and 2021, including the recapture of territories once controlled by insurgents.
“All those roadblocks were removed. All those local governments that were under Boko Haram before 2015 have been recovered. Substantial degrading of Boko Haram was done between 2015 and 2021. The military is still what it used to be – professional.”
ALSO READ: Tension Online as Teni Reportedly Crashes Davido’s Lamborghini During Music Video Shoot
Delivering his keynote address titled “Leadership, Strategy, and National Security Management,” Buratai underscored the critical relationship between leadership competence and national security outcomes. Citing lessons from his book Thoughts and Principles on Leadership (2022), he argued that no strategy can succeed without capable leaders who can execute it effectively.
He said government already has strong legal and operational frameworks for tackling terrorism — including the national defence policy and anti-terrorism laws — but stressed that implementation must be comprehensive and sustained.
“There must be continuous support, training and retraining, and recruitment across the police, military, intelligence agencies, DSS, and others.”
Buratai also highlighted the need to strengthen community resilience and local governance structures as part of a holistic approach to national security.
The conference also featured the investiture and induction of distinguished fellows, fellows, professional members, and associate members of the Institute of Security, Nigeria.
Buratai: Insurgency Fight Incomplete Without Citizens’ Full Participation