Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd), narrowly escaped an attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, according to Senator Ali Ndume.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, revealed that the incident occurred near a frontline military base last Friday.
He said Buratai was ambushed alongside his convoy but managed to escape due to swift response from accompanying troops.
“General Buratai came under attack just two days ago,” Ndume disclosed. “It happened near the front operations base. His team responded courageously, but the insurgents still succeeded in damaging critical military equipment.”
Ndume described the ambush as part of a worsening security situation in the region, adding that the insurgents targeted and destroyed high-value military assets such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), tanks, and heavy weapons. In some cases, he claimed, the attackers carted away military hardware.
“The security situation in Borno is deteriorating at an alarming rate,” he warned. “Insurgents now operate more freely. They loot and torch military equipment. It is gradually turning into a crisis.”
More Read
The senator expressed grave concern about the broader security challenges facing Nigeria, saying that all six geopolitical zones are battling various forms of insecurity. According to him, only the South-West currently appears relatively stable.
“In the South-South, we’re dealing with economic sabotage like oil theft. Banditry, violence, and insurgency are threatening the peace across the country,” he noted.