Nigerian troops not overwhelmed by insurgency — Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), has said that the insurgency affecting parts of the country, particularly the North-East, is not overwhelming Nigerian troops.

Buratai made the assertion on Friday while featuring on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where he spoke on the ongoing fight against insurgency and banditry.

According to him, despite the challenges on the ground, the military remains capable and continues to hold its position against insurgents.

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“I don’t see that the insurgency is somehow overwhelming the troops. We are okay. Now we have more enablers in terms of drones,” he said.

He, however, noted that while significant improvements have been made, the military still requires additional platforms and operational support to enhance its effectiveness.

“A lot of platforms have been injected, but the military still needs more of such platforms and the enablers,” Buratai added.

The former army chief also highlighted the vast terrain of the North-East as a major operational challenge, stressing that troops are often widely dispersed across the region.

“If you look at the landmass of the North-East alone, it’s quite enormous. This is what we have always talked about even during our time.

“If you look at it, the troops are so dispersed. Manpower and equipment are challenges,” he said.

Buratai emphasised the need for sustained investment in manpower and modern equipment to strengthen ongoing military operations against insurgency and other security threats.