Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), has called on the Federal Government to consider a COVID-style lockdown as a strategy to address insecurity, stressing that terrorism and banditry should be confronted as a national emergency that demands collective sacrifice.
He stated this in an interview with Channels Television on Friday.
Buratai stressed that the fight against insecurity should not be left to the military alone but should be handled just as Covid -19 was tackled.
He said “when there are national crisis we need to mobilise everybody, not just the military alone. Look at COVID-19, how much was spent, how much was invested into information, communication, advertisement, palliatives, and preventive measures.
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“The whole nation was locked down because of COVID-19. We can do the same thing. We can lock down this country to make sure that everybody concentrates and deals with this cankerworm of so-called terrorists and bandits.”
The former army chief noted that before leaving office, he had warned that insurgency could last longer than expected if a long-term strategy was not adopted.
He recalled, “Just before I left office, and immediately after I was appointed ambassador to the Republic of Benin, I sent a note of warning that this insurgency may last longer. It is not something that you just wish away. We really need to have a long-term plan.”
Citing past experiences of collective action, Buratai pointed to how Nigerians rallied to support victims of the Maiduguri flood crisis. He urged a similar mobilisation in the fight against insecurity.
According to him, “Beyond military campaigns, citizens must be mobilised psychologically, through social media, press, and community support to overcome what I describe as the so-called terrorists and bandits.”
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