Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on poverty in Northern Nigeria, describing economic deprivation as one of the underlying factors sustaining terrorism and insecurity across the country.
The retired military chief maintained that defeating terrorism would require more than sustained military offensives, stressing the need to confront unemployment, illiteracy, weak governance, poverty and other socio-economic challenges that expose vulnerable young people to extremist ideologies and recruitment.
Buratai made the submission on Friday in Lagos during the public presentation of a book titled Beyond Military Force: A Strategy for Countering Terrorism in Nigeria, written by Dr Joan Ugo Mbagwu, a Professor of Peace, Criminology and Security Studies at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking as the Guest of Honour, Buratai described the publication as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to develop more effective counter-terrorism strategies. He argued that the country’s approach to insecurity must evolve beyond its longstanding reliance on military operations.
He emphasised that lasting peace would remain difficult to achieve without accountable governance, improved economic conditions, grassroots participation and effective cooperation among countries facing similar security threats.
According to him, “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.”
Reflecting on his tenure as Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021, Buratai noted that the persistent security threats confronting the North-East and North-West demanded a comprehensive strategy combining military intervention with civilian-led initiatives.
He identified intelligence gathering as a major determinant of success in counter-insurgency operations, arguing that security agencies must establish credible relationships with residents of affected communities to obtain reliable information.
“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 said.
The former army chief also cautioned against security operations that disregard human rights, warning that abuses could erode public trust and provide terrorist groups with propaganda opportunities to attract new recruits.
He said, “We must understand that the way security operations are conducted is as important as the operations themselves. When communities are alienated, the security agencies lose the cooperation they need to succeed.”
Buratai further revealed that measures were introduced during his leadership of the Nigerian Army to strengthen accountability and ensure adherence to professional standards. These included a review of the military’s rules of engagement and the establishment of human rights desks alongside other oversight mechanisms.
He also advocated improved counter-terrorism capabilities within the Nigeria Police Force, insisting that the military should not become a permanent substitute for 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 stated.
On efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate former terrorists, Buratai expressed support for credible deradicalisation initiatives but stressed that such programmes must recognise the suffering of victims and ensure that the pursuit of rehabilitation does not compromise justice.
He said, “Rehabilitation and reintegration are important, but we must not forget the victims. Communities affected by terrorism must be reassured that justice has been served.”
He added that rehabilitation initiatives would only achieve meaningful results if they were conducted transparently, subjected to proper monitoring and implemented in ways that restored the confidence of communities affected by insurgency.
Drawing on his experience as commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, headquartered in N’Djamena, Chad, Buratai called for greater regional collaboration to address the cross-border activities of terrorist organisations, particularly Boko Haram and its affiliated groups.
He observed that the transnational nature of terrorism required a coordinated response among neighbouring countries rather than isolated national security operations.
“Terrorism does not respect national boundaries. Therefore, our response must also go beyond national boundaries. We need stronger cooperation among countries sharing common security challenges.”
He specifically urged Nigeria to deepen its security partnerships through the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and countries within the Lake Chad Basin.
Addressing his proposal for an emergency intervention on poverty in Northern Nigeria, Buratai identified out-of-school children, the Almajiri system, youth unemployment, vocational education and social protection as critical areas requiring immediate government attention.
He, however, warned that effective implementation would depend on protecting poverty reduction initiatives from political interference and the diversion of resources by influential individuals for personal gain.
“Poverty is not an excuse for terrorism, but it is a fertile ground for recruitment and manipulation. We must treat it with the seriousness it deserves,” he said.
Providing further insight into the research underpinning the book, Buratai disclosed that field investigations were undertaken across Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi and Niger states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said the findings revealed that 86 per cent of respondents considered negotiation a potentially useful approach to addressing terrorism, while 92 per cent believed community members could play an important role in providing intelligence to security agencies.
According to him, the research also established that 84 per cent of respondents associated terrorist recruitment with unfavourable economic conditions and the Almajiri situation.
Buratai said the findings reinforced the argument that military successes alone could not guarantee lasting security, noting that public trust, institutional credibility and legitimacy were equally important in overcoming terrorism.
Earlier in her remarks, the author, Mbagwu, explained that the book was developed to challenge the conventional understanding of counter-terrorism, particularly the disproportionate emphasis on military force as the principal response to extremist violence.
She said, “We cannot continue to look at terrorism only from the perspective of military force. We must also examine the conditions that allow terrorism to thrive and the factors that make individuals vulnerable to extremist ideologies.”
The publication was officially unveiled by retired Major General R.O. Yusuf.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Olubunmi Ajala, praised Buratai’s continued interest in security matters and described the book as a relevant contribution to national discussions on addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
The ceremony 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.
