Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, has questioned why security agencies appear unable to track terrorists and bandits despite their ability to monitor ordinary citizens and social media users.
Speaking during an interview on TVC News, the former army chief said security agencies possess the capacity to locate criminals who openly communicate and share videos online.
Responding to concerns about bandits who record videos, make phone calls and sometimes livestream their activities, Buratai said he does not believe the problem is an inability to trace them.
“I don’t think they fail to locate them,” he said.
“If they can locate ordinary citizens or social media influencers, I don’t believe they cannot locate these bandits who flaunt their loot or their activities.”
NEED FOR CONTINUOUS CAPACITY BUILDING
While declining to speculate on why such criminals are not always apprehended, Buratai said Nigeria’s security agencies require continuous capacity building.
“I think they may have their reasons,” he said.
“But what I know is that there must be capacity building of all the security agencies continuously.”
He called for the recruitment of more security personnel and improved welfare for troops.
“There is need for more operatives,” he said.
“More troops need to be recruited, more policemen need to be recruited, trained and retrained.”
“Welfare is very important. Let us have good accommodation for them.”
On whether Nigeria has specialised units capable of carrying out high-risk rescue missions such as the operation required to free abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, Buratai said such capabilities exist within the armed forces.
“I cannot be very specific, but generally we have such capabilities within the military,” he said.
“The Navy has special boat services trained for rescue missions.”
“Even the Nigerian Army has special forces trained for rescue operations and VIP protection.”
However, he noted that hostage situations often require caution because of the risk to victims.
“The sensitivity of that type of kidnap, the location and those involved, and the danger of collateral damage may play a very important part,” he said.
Buratai also called for the expansion of the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser has a counterterrorism centre,” he said.
“I believe it has the capacity, but it can be further expanded with state branches equipped with highly technical equipment and operations centres.”
According to him, stronger coordination between the centre, security agencies and the military would significantly improve Nigeria’s response to terrorism and kidnapping.