Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd), narrowly escaped an ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Friday while traveling through Borno State, a region long plagued by insurgency and violent extremism.
The incident was disclosed by Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, during a televised interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Sunday evening. According to the senator, the attack took place near a military frontline operations base and involved a heavy exchange of gunfire between the insurgents and troops accompanying Buratai.
“Buratai was attacked just two days ago at the front operations base in Borno,” Ndume said. “The soldiers in his convoy fought back courageously, but the insurgents still managed to destroy critical military assets.”
Though no official statement has been issued by the military or Buratai himself, the ambush reportedly led to the loss and destruction of high-grade military hardware, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), tanks, and mounted machine guns. In some instances, Ndume added, insurgents carted away arms and equipment after disabling military assets.
The lawmaker warned that the attack on Buratai was symptomatic of a deeper crisis facing the country’s security architecture, particularly in the North-East.
“The situation in Borno is deteriorating quickly. Insurgents now roam freely, setting fire to military outposts and stealing weapons. It’s no longer isolated — it’s a full-blown crisis,” he said.
Ndume also painted a grim picture of the broader national security climate, stating that insecurity has taken root in all six geopolitical zones.
“From the North-West to the South-East, and even the South-South with oil theft and pipeline vandalism, no part of the country is spared. Only the South-West appears somewhat stable for now,” he noted.
The incident has further amplified calls for a major shake-up of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy and the urgent need to reevaluate troop deployments and logistics support in insurgency-hit areas.
Buratai, who served as Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021, was a key figure in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts during his tenure. Since retiring, he has continued to engage in security-related initiatives and remains an influential voice in defense circles.
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