Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai, has urged the Federal Government to lock down Nigeria’s borders as part of efforts to curb rising insecurity, just as the country did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Friday, Burutai warned that allowing insurgency to fester posed grave risks to the nation. He called for greater investment in security measures and emphasised the need for community resilience through collaboration among political, traditional, and religious leaders.
The former army chief recalled that he had earlier cautioned that insurgency would last longer than expected, stressing the importance of a long-term strategic plan.
Burutai, who served as Chief of Army Staff under former President Muhammadu Buhari, argued that the military should be regarded as a solution to insecurity rather than a barrier.
On the debate over state police, he acknowledged its potential benefits but warned that politicians could abuse such structures to harass opponents. According to him, Nigeria can fully embrace the idea of state policing only if political interference is eliminated.