Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), narrowly survived a deadly ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Friday in Borno State, highlighting the deepening security crisis in Nigeria’s North-East.
The incident was disclosed by Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday.
According to the senator, Buratai and his convoy were ambushed near a frontline military base, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire between the insurgents and the soldiers escorting the retired general.
“We are in a dire security situation,” Ndume said. “Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at the front operations base in Borno. His team responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets.”
The attackers reportedly targeted high-value equipment including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and machine guns. Some of the equipment was allegedly carted away by the insurgents after the assault.
Ndume painted a grim picture of the broader security situation, stating that all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria are now grappling with varying degrees of violent conflict, banditry, and sabotage. “Even in the South-South, we are grappling with economic sabotage like oil theft. At this point, the South-West appears to be the only relatively safe region,” he added.
The lawmaker’s revelations have intensified calls for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s security architecture, especially in the North-East where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to operate with apparent impunity.
Buratai, who led the Nigerian Army from 2015 to 2021, was a key figure in the country’s counterinsurgency strategy. Since retiring, he has remained an influential voice in national security matters.
What you should know
Retired Army Chief Tukur Buratai narrowly escaped a deadly ambush in Borno, as suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked his convoy.
The incident underscores the worsening insecurity in the North-East and raises renewed concerns about Nigeria’s broader security architecture.
