By Charles Pemu 
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), narrowly escaped death on Friday when suspected Boko Haram insurgents ambushed his convoy near a frontline base in Borno State.
The attack was revealed by Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, during an interview on Politics Today on Channels TV. According to Ndume, Buratai’s convoy came under heavy gunfire, sparking a fierce exchange between the insurgents and troops escorting the retired general.
“His team responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets,” Ndume said.
The attackers reportedly targeted and damaged Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), tanks, and heavy-duty machine guns. In some cases, insurgents carted away stolen equipment.
Ndume warned that the security situation in Borno is deteriorating rapidly, with insurgents operating with increased boldness. “They now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis,” he added.
Expanding the discussion beyond Borno, Ndume painted a grim national picture, citing widespread insecurity across all six geopolitical zones—from banditry and insurgency in the North to oil theft in the South-South.
“Only the South-West seems relatively safe at the moment,” he noted.
The attack on Buratai—who led Nigeria’s army from 2015 to 2021—has reignited calls for urgent reforms in the nation’s security apparatus, particularly in the volatile North-East where Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active.
Buratai, since his retirement, has continued to play a prominent role in national security affairs.