Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has charged the Federal Government to take action against individuals sponsoring terrorism in the country, adding that the military alone cannot rout out insurgents.
Buratai said the mere identification of those financing terrorism is insufficient to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
In March 2024, the federal government said it had uncovered 15 entities allegedly involved in terrorism financing, comprising nine individuals and six bureau de change operators.
However, there has been little update from the government on efforts to prosecute the suspects, despite persistent public outcry.
Speaking during Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Buratai said:
“We over-rely on the military and the army; everybody has its own responsibility. You cannot say I should be responsible for naming the financiers of terror.
“The government knows where the source came from; we have agencies that are responsible. But it’s not just about mentioning names; action should be taken.”
The former army chief said the military’s role is limited to its constitutional responsibilities, adding that broader policy decisions, such as the rehabilitation of repentant insurgents, are determined by the government.
He described Nigeria’s insurgency as a complex and deeply rooted challenge that cannot be resolved quickly or through military force alone.
“Our focus has often been on the army, that the army must do everything: clear, dismantle, and wipe out all insurgents, but it is not like that. It is more or less an embedded problem within society, and it requires everyone’s effort,” he said.
“It would be wishful thinking for anyone to say that this type of insurgency can be cleared overnight. These are people with ideology and beliefs who think they have a mission, and once they establish it, they imagine a perfect society, which is not realistic in the Nigerian context.”
