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Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), has emphasised that intelligence and inter-agency collaboration play a critical role in tackling insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday about his tenure as well as the ongoing fight against insurgency, Buratai stressed that effective intelligence gathering and coordination were fundamental to counterinsurgency efforts.
He noted that during his tenure, the military made significant strides in tracking insurgents, their logistics networks, arms couriers, and financial backers.
He said, “The enormous challenge that the country faced from 2009 up to 2014/2025. If we understand that challenge, it will be a complete approach, not only within the military angle but also the comprehensive approach that I’ve always said, whole of government approach in tackling the insecurity in this country.
“However, I know what we did while I was there. Very importantly, I would have loved to continue with our intelligence operations. It is very fundamental. I think if we have the intelligence and the capability from where we stopped, especially between 2019 and 2020, it was so wonderful that we were able to achieve a lot. I think if it is continued, and I believe it is being continued by my successors, but much more is still needed to be done to get that.
“We had not related, especially in seeing that we followed those insurgents, their supporters in terms of logistic suppliers, their arms couriers, those that give them food, water and petroleum oil and lubricants. So, if we look at it in that perspective, intelligence is key. Understanding of the terrain is also very fundamental. It’s still part of the intelligence aspect.
“This country is so vast. So many forests across the country are uninhabited. That’s why you have these continuous challenges here and there. I believe with complete support and involvement of all stakeholders, in this case, the government at all levels and the other security agencies, it will help a lot. I know the police have very good intelligence, the department of state service also has very good intelligence, but coordination at all levels.
“There was very good synergy at the strategic level, that is at the service chiefs level but still much more is needed to be done at the tactical level. It’s very important. As well as the operational level. Those on the ground need to have up-to-date intelligence of what is happening in their environment. They need to know day to day activities of the enclaves of the bandits, the terrorists and other criminal elements.”
Buratai also highlighted the successes achieved under his leadership and the challenges that persist.
He said, “I left well trained, highly professional officers who took over the mantle of leadership of the army, not only at the strategic level at the army headquarters but also across the formations and units of the Nigerian Army. They continued the professional approach to countering the insurgents and also the bandits. While we see some challenges, this is normal. I believe there is nothing that I left that I will think over again, because I know I left capable hands that are doing their best.
“You’re talking of my achievements. So much has been achieved. I modernised the Nigerian Army and so on.”
Responding to criticisms about his achievements as Chief of Army Staff and claims that insurgency worsened during his tenure, Buratai stated that the military successfully reclaimed vast territories once controlled by Boko Haram.
He stated, “Boko Haram had already carved out their territories. Those that know the northeast very well, they had already identified and blocked all access to the northeastern part of the country, especially parts of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. They had already defined their territory before 2015 when we came in. There was roughly 120,000 square kilometres of area that Boko Haram had defined as their territory and we have reclaimed all those things. Not to talk of how many local governments that were under the Boko Haram control. So many local governments were under the Boko Haram terrorist organisation.”
Melissa Enoch
The post Buratai: Effective Intelligence And Collaboration Are Key To Defeating Insurgency In Nigeria appeared first on Arise News.
