Nigeria’s porous borders encouraging insecurity — Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has said that the unmanned borders of Nigeria is fueling the activities of insurgents.

This is just as the former Service Chief said coup should be seen as organised crime and punished to allow democracy to survive in Africa.

Buratai stated this while delivering a message at a conference on ‘organised crimes’ organised by Tukur Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs, and Igbinedion University Okada in Abuja.

He said the fight against organised crime requires concerted efforts of experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from diverse sectors.

Buratai said present realities had shown the military must play its role without getting involved in governance.

The former military officer further stated that the causes of organised crime in the Sahel, particularly in Nigeria was as a result of porous borders.

He explained that the seamless movement of criminals and illegal goods across national boundaries as well as unrest in Somalia, DR Congo, Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Sudan, had a direct impact.

“In Nigeria, organised crime has taken various forms, reflecting the country’s socio-economic challenges and political landscape.

“One notable episode was the Maitatsine insurgency in the 1980s, which saw a radical sect advocating a strict form of Islamic governance, resulting in violence and loss of lives.

“Another infamous case was the Anini saga in the 1980s, where Lawrence Anini led a gang involved in high-profile robberies and assassinations”, the former Army Chief stated.

Buratai recommended a comprehensive approach from law agencies, government, and the public to protect us.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, said insecurity is heightened by the convergence and proliferation of banditry, terrorism, human and drug trafficking, and kidnapping, among others.

“Our university under the auspices of Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs is poised to respond to these challenges,’’ he said.

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