Former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai has sparked debate by stating that while security agencies are aware of individuals financing terrorism in Nigeria, they have strategic reasons for not making their identities public
In a revealing interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, March 20, 2026, former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.) addressed the long-standing mystery surrounding the sponsors of insurgency in Nigeria. Buratai confirmed that Nigeria’s intelligence and security agencies possess a clear understanding of the individuals and entities funding terrorism across the country. However, he maintained that the decision to keep these identities confidential is a deliberate one made by relevant authorities. “You cannot say I should be responsible for naming the financiers of terror,” Buratai stated, emphasizing that he should not be held accountable for the government’s non-release of such sensitive information
The retired General explained that the non-disclosure of these names is often tied to ongoing operations and strategic considerations within the security architecture. He noted that while the identities may not be public, they are well-documented within official circles. “It’s not just about mentioning names; those agencies know why the names are not released,” he added, while simultaneously calling for more decisive action to be taken against these individuals who, he noted, remain part of the broader society today. This disclosure follows years of public pressure on the federal government to fulfill past promises to expose and prosecute those behind the decade-long insurgency in the North-East.
Beyond the issue of financing, Buratai utilized the platform to advocate for a “whole-of-society” approach to national security. He argued that the military is currently overstretched across vast terrains and that sustainable victory against groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP requires more than just combat. He urged the government to increase recruitment and improve intelligence gathering, while also tasking state governments with providing the “good governance” and infrastructure necessary to solve the root causes of unrest. His remarks come amidst heightened security tensions following a reported attack in Borno State earlier that day which left 23 people dead, further intensifying the call for transparency in the war against terror.
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