Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), narrowly escaped death on Friday after his convoy came under heavy gunfire in Borno State in what Senator Ali Ndume has described as a brazen ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday evening, Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, revealed that the attack occurred near a frontline military base and involved a fierce firefight between the attackers and Buratai’s security detail.
“We are in a dire security situation. 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,” Ndume disclosed.
According to him, the insurgents targeted high-grade military hardware including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and machine guns. He noted that, in many cases, these terrorists not only destroy such equipment but also cart away arms and ammunition.
“The situation in Borno is deteriorating rapidly. Insurgents now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis,” he added.
Ndume further lamented the nationwide spread of insecurity, pointing to violent conflicts, banditry, and economic sabotage in various parts of the country.
“All six geopolitical zones are experiencing security challenges to varying degrees. 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 said.
The failed attack on Buratai has reignited calls for a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s security framework, especially in the North-East where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to operate with deadly impunity.
Buratai, who served as Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021, played a central role in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts and remains a prominent figure in the country’s security landscape.
