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| Buratai and Ndume |
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), narrowly survived a deadly attack on his convoy by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State. The shocking ambush has intensified fears over worsening security in Nigeria’s troubled North-East region.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, disclosed the incident during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. According to him, Buratai’s convoy was ambushed near a military frontline base, triggering a fierce gun battle between troops and the attackers.
While casualty figures remain unclear, Ndume confirmed that the assailants targeted high-value military equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and machine guns. Some weapons were reportedly looted by the insurgents.
"The security situation is dire," Ndume stated. "Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at a front operations base. His team fought back, but the insurgents destroyed critical military assets."
The senator warned that Boko Haram and other militant groups now operate with alarming boldness, burning and stealing military hardware. "This is no longer sporadic violence it’s a full-blown crisis,"* he stressed.
Ndume painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s nationwide insecurity, citing rampant banditry, kidnappings, and economic sabotage. "All six geopolitical zones face serious threats. Even the South-South battles oil theft, while only the South-West remains relatively stable," he noted.
The attack on Buratai a key figure in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts from 2015 to 2021 has reignited calls for urgent security reforms. Despite military gains in recent years, Boko Haram and its ISWAP splinter group continue deadly assaults in the North-East.