Intelligence, Not Firepower, Key to Ending Insurgency — Buratai

Intelligence, Not Firepower, Key to Ending Insurgency — Buratai



Former Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has identified intelligence gathering as the most critical factor in defeating insurgency in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, he stressed that insurgents rely heavily on local collaborators for logistics, information, and survival.



According to him, dismantling these networks is key to weakening insurgent groups such as Boko Haram.



“Insurgency is a people’s war. You must disconnect the insurgents from the population,” he said.



Buratai urged authorities to identify and arrest informants operating in cities, villages, and transport hubs, noting that similar strategies proved effective in countries like Colombia.



He also called for increased deployment of technology, particularly surveillance drones, to enhance intelligence operations.



The former army chief further stressed the need for improved coordination among intelligence agencies, continuous upgrading of military capabilities, and sustained national commitment to ending the conflict.