By:ABC News Nigeria
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has warned that Nigeria may continue to struggle with terrorism and insurgency unless the Federal Government tackles poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and poor governance, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
Buratai stressed that military operations, no matter how sophisticated or aggressive, cannot independently bring lasting peace without addressing the socio-economic conditions that make vulnerable youths susceptible to recruitment by terrorist organisations.
The retired army chief made the remarks on Friday in Lagos during the public presentation of a book titled Beyond Military Force: A Strategy for Countering Terrorism in Nigeria, authored by Dr Joan Ugo Mbagwu, a Professor of Peace, Criminology and Security Studies at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He called on the Federal Government to consider declaring a state of emergency on poverty in Northern Nigeria, describing economic deprivation, lack of educational opportunities and widespread youth unemployment as issues requiring urgent national attention.
According to Buratai, military force remains an essential instrument in confronting terrorist groups, but it cannot replace good governance, economic development and effective social interventions.
“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 served as Chief of Army Staff between 2015 and 2021, maintained that Nigeria needed to move beyond its traditional dependence on military operations and adopt a comprehensive strategy that combines security measures with economic empowerment, education and community engagement.
He identified the North-East and North-West as regions where persistent insecurity requires coordinated interventions that address both immediate security threats and the underlying factors sustaining violence.
The former army chief also underscored the importance of intelligence gathering, warning that military firepower alone would not produce the desired results without reliable information and cooperation from local communities.
He argued that residents of communities affected by terrorism remain critical partners in identifying threats, tracking criminal movements and preventing attacks.
“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.
Buratai further cautioned security agencies against human rights violations during military operations, noting that abuses could undermine public confidence and provide terrorist organisations with propaganda opportunities to attract new recruits.
Reflecting on his tenure, he disclosed that the Nigerian Army reviewed its rules of engagement and introduced human rights desks and other accountability mechanisms to strengthen compliance with established standards.
He also called for stronger civilian security institutions, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, arguing that the military should not be overstretched by performing responsibilities traditionally assigned to civilian authorities.
“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 rehabilitation of former terrorists, Buratai supported credible deradicalisation and reintegration programmes but insisted that such initiatives must not undermine justice for victims and communities affected by terrorism.
He maintained that rehabilitation efforts must be transparent, properly monitored and community-based, with adequate assurances that justice has been served.
Drawing from his experience as commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, headquartered in N’Djamena, Chad, Buratai also advocated stronger regional cooperation, stressing that terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram and its affiliates, operate across national borders.
He urged Nigeria to deepen security collaboration with neighbouring countries and regional institutions, including the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and countries within the Lake Chad Basin.
On poverty reduction in Northern Nigeria, the retired general identified out-of-school children, the Almajiri system, youth unemployment, vocational training and social protection as priority areas requiring urgent intervention.
He, however, warned that poverty alleviation programmes must be transparent and protected against diversion, political manipulation and capture by influential individuals.
“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.
Citing research findings contained in the book, Buratai disclosed that surveys conducted across Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory showed that 86 per cent of respondents believed negotiations could help address terrorism.
He added that 92 per cent supported community participation in intelligence gathering, while 84 per cent linked terrorist recruitment to poor economic conditions and the Almajiri situation.
Earlier, the author, Professor Joan Ugo Mbagwu, explained that the book was conceived to broaden Nigeria’s counter-terrorism debate beyond conventional reliance on military force.
Mbagwu, who has conducted research for the Ford Foundation and the Institute for Development Studies, also 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 the Chairman of the occasion, Olubunmi Ajala, commended Buratai for his continued contributions to discussions on Nigeria’s security challenges.
An award of appreciation was also presented to the former army chief in recognition of his contributions to the fight against terrorism during his tenure.
Buratai’s message at the event reinforced the growing argument that winning the war against terrorism requires more than defeating armed groups on the battlefield; it also demands tackling the poverty, unemployment and governance failures that allow insecurity to persist.
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