Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has questioned Nigeria’s security strategy, arguing that security agencies have the capacity to locate bandits and terrorists if they can successfully track and arrest social media influencers.
The retired army general made the remark while addressing concerns over the country’s worsening insecurity and the continued activities of armed criminal groups in several parts of the country.
Buratai on Tracking Bandits
According to Buratai, security agencies have demonstrated their ability to monitor and identify individuals through digital platforms.
Therefore, he argued that the same intelligence and surveillance capabilities should be used to track bandits and other criminal elements threatening national security.
He suggested that if authorities can locate social media personalities based on their online activities, they should also be able to identify and apprehend criminals who openly communicate or leave digital footprints.
Concerns Over Rising Insecurity
Buratai’s comments come amid growing public concern over persistent attacks, kidnappings, and banditry across different regions of Nigeria.
Many Nigerians have continued to question why criminal groups appear difficult to apprehend despite advancements in surveillance technology and intelligence gathering. The issue has remained a major topic of national debate as security agencies intensify efforts to combat insecurity.
Call for Improved Intelligence Operations
The former army chief stressed the need for stronger intelligence-driven operations.
He maintained that effective tracking, monitoring, and information gathering remain critical tools in the fight against banditry and terrorism.
Furthermore, he emphasized that security agencies must maximize available technology and intelligence resources to improve the country’s security situation.
Buratai on tracking bandits has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security architecture.
His position is that if security forces can identify and arrest social media influencers through digital monitoring, they should also possess the capacity to locate and dismantle criminal networks operating across the country.
