Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), narrowly escaped death after his convoy was ambushed by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State on Friday.
The incident was revealed by Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, June 8.
“We are in a dire security situation. Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at the front operations base in Borno,” Ndume disclosed.
He said the retired general and the troops with him came under intense gunfire near a frontline military base. Although casualty details remain unclear, the senator noted that a firefight broke out between the attackers and Buratai’s escort team.
“His team responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets,” he added.
According to Ndume, the attackers targeted and damaged critical equipment including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and heavy machine guns.
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He warned that the situation in Borno is deteriorating quickly. “Insurgents now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis,” he said.
Ndume further raised alarm about worsening insecurity nationwide, stressing that no region is truly safe.
“All six geopolitical zones are experiencing security challenges to varying degrees,” he said.
“Even in the South-South, we are grappling with economic sabotage like oil theft. At this point, the South-West appears to be the only relatively safe region.”
The attack on Buratai comes amid calls for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s security structure, especially in the North-East, where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to pose serious threats.
Buratai, who served as Nigeria’s army chief from 2015 to 2021, was a key figure in the country’s counterinsurgency efforts and remains active in security discourse since retirement.