A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (rtd), has questioned claims that security agencies are unable to locate bandits and kidnappers who openly share videos and communicate from their hideouts.
The former Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic insisted that authorities have the capacity to track such criminals.
PUNCH Online recalls that gunmen abducted schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, and later beheaded one of the teachers.
Buratai spoke during an interview on TVC on Monday while reacting to concerns over the increasing use of social media and video recordings by criminal groups operating across the country.
The retired lieutenant general said he did not believe security agencies lacked the ability to trace bandits who frequently publicise their activities.
“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 stopping short of directly criticising security agencies, Buratai suggested there could be reasons behind their operational decisions.
“I would not like to say it is a capacity-building challenge, but I think they may have their reasons,” he said.
The former army chief stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through continuous training, recruitment and improved welfare for security 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 regular retraining and better living conditions for security personnel.
“They should be trained and retrained. Their welfare is very important. Let us have good accommodation. They must have good accommodation,” he said.
Speaking on whether Nigeria has specialised units capable of carrying out high-risk hostage rescue operations, Buratai said the armed forces possess such capabilities.
“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.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy’s Special Boat Service and the Nigerian Army’s Special Forces are equipped and trained for rescue operations and VIP protection assignments.
“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 said.
However, Buratai noted that operational decisions in kidnapping cases are often shaped by concerns over hostage safety 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 added.
Buratai also advocated the expansion of the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, saying improved coordination and technological capacity would strengthen the fight against terrorism and kidnapping.
“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.
He proposed the establishment of state branches of the centre equipped with advanced technology and operational facilities.
“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.