Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), has proposed a temporary lockdown of Nigeria’s borders as part of measures to decisively curb the growing wave of insecurity across the country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Buratai argued that just as border restrictions were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a similar strategy could be deployed to checkmate insurgents, arms smuggling, and cross-border criminal networks fueling terrorism.
He cautioned that allowing insurgency to fester any longer poses grave danger to Nigeria’s stability, stressing the urgency of sustained investment in security solutions.
According to him, true success against insecurity will require community resilience through stronger collaboration among political leaders, traditional rulers, and religious institutions.
Buratai revealed that he had long warned that insurgency in Nigeria would endure, underscoring the need for a deliberate long-term strategy rather than ad hoc responses.
“The Nigerian military must be seen as a solution to insecurity, not a hindrance,” he stated, urging authorities to strengthen the armed forces with the resources, trust, and support needed to achieve lasting peace.
Buratai, who served as Army Chief under former President Muhammadu Buhari, emphasized that defeating insurgency demands both military action and collective national will.
