If security agencies can track influencers, they can locate bandits — Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has said Nigeria’s security agencies possess the capacity to track and locate bandits and kidnappers, particularly those who openly share videos and communicate from their hideouts.

Buratai made the remarks during an interview on TVC on Monday while reacting to concerns over the growing use of social media by criminal groups.

He dismissed claims that security agencies lack the ability to trace such individuals, insisting that modern surveillance systems make it possible to identify them.

“I don’t think they failed to locate. If they can locate ordinary citizens or social media influencers, I don’t believe they can locate these bandits that flaunt their loot or whatever activities they do,” he said.

While he stopped short of directly accusing security agencies of inefficiency, Buratai suggested that there may be operational considerations influencing their actions.

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“I would not like to say it is a capacity-building challenge, but I think they may have their reasons,” he added.

The former army chief called for sustained improvement in Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing the need for continuous training, recruitment, and better welfare for personnel.

“There must be capacity building of all the security agencies, and continuously,” he said. “There is a need for more operatives. We need more troops to be recruited, more operatives and more policemen.”

He also highlighted the importance of welfare and retraining for personnel, saying improved accommodation and working conditions would boost efficiency.

“They should be trained and retrained. Their welfare is very important. Let us have good accommodation. They must have good accommodation,” he said.

Buratai noted that the Nigerian Armed Forces already have specialised units capable of handling complex operations, including the Nigerian Navy’s Special Boat Service and the Nigerian Army’s Special Forces.

“I will not tell you exactly or be specific, but generally we have within the military specialised units trained for such rescue missions,” he said.

“The Special Boat Service is trained for such rescue missions. Even the Nigerian Army has Special Forces. They have rescue and VIP protection capabilities,” he added.

He, however, stressed that certain kidnapping cases require careful handling due to the sensitivity of hostage situations and the risk of collateral damage.

“The sensitivity of that type of kidnap, the location and those involved, and the danger of collateral damage may play a very important part,” he said.

Buratai also advocated for the expansion of the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, suggesting the establishment of state branches equipped with modern technology to strengthen coordination among security agencies.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser has a Counter Terrorism Centre. I think the commander there is a professional and highly strategic officer,” he said.

“If it can be further expanded to have state branches of the Counter Terrorism Centre with highly technical equipment and very good operations centres or situation rooms, they will be able to do a lot in coordination with the security agencies and the military,” Buratai said.