Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has expressed concern over the nationwide deployment of soldiers, warning that the reliance on the military for internal security could undermine the Nigerian Police Force and other civilian security agencies.
Currently, troops are stationed across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, supporting operations intended to stabilize areas affected by crime and unrest. While this presence has delivered immediate improvements in public safety, Buratai cautioned that prolonged deployment risks weakening civilian security institutions.
“The extensive deployment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in internal security provides short-term stability, but it also creates a cycle of dependency that erodes police capacity and strains defence resources,” he explained during his keynote at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day lecture in Abuja.
He highlighted that this strategy produces multiple challenges. The military becomes overstretched, defence budgets are diverted to routine policing duties, and readiness for conventional external threats diminishes.
“Internal security should primarily be civilian-led and intelligence-driven, with the police and state security services taking the lead,” Buratai stressed, underscoring that the constitution assigns the Armed Forces their primary roles of defending the nation against external aggression, safeguarding territorial integrity, and supporting civil authorities when required.
The retired general cautioned against permanently substituting military presence for effective civilian policing, emphasizing that long-term reliance could erode both institutional capacity and national security:
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains crucial for national stability and development, but their expanded internal role must not compromise their core mandate or weaken civilian institutions,” he noted.
Buratai called for a structured, conditions-based exit plan to restore internal security responsibilities to the police and intelligence agencies, ensuring that the military can refocus on its primary defense objectives.
Analysis
The former army chief’s warning raises critical questions about Nigeria’s security architecture. While soldiers’ involvement has temporarily suppressed threats, experts argue that overreliance on the military risks creating dependency, weakening policing structures, and leaving the country vulnerable to both internal and external crises. Analysts suggest that balancing immediate security needs with institutional development is key to sustainable peace and resilience.
By advocating for a time-bound withdrawal and the empowerment of civilian security agencies, Buratai is highlighting the importance of preserving the military’s strategic capacity while strengthening Nigeria’s overall security ecosystem.
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