Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has warned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity could escalate to a point where top government officials, including governors, ministers, and senators, may become direct targets if urgent action is not taken.

Buratai issued the warning while reacting to the killing of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe by bandits, describing the incident as evidence that criminal groups are becoming increasingly emboldened across the country.

He said the development reflects a dangerous shift in Nigeria’s security landscape and should serve as a wake-up call to authorities.

“If this trend continues unchecked, the next targets may not be soldiers or civilians alone. They could include ministers, senators, and even state governors. No leader will be immune,” he said.

The former army chief recalled that he had warned as far back as 2021 that insurgency and banditry would persist if decisive action was not taken, saying current developments are validating those concerns.

He noted that armed groups are now better organised, better equipped, and more confident, posing a growing threat to national stability.

Buratai criticised what he described as a reactive approach to insecurity, particularly ransom payments and negotiations with criminals, insisting that such strategies should be discontinued.

“The current reactive strategy, paying ransoms and negotiating with criminals, must end. It is time for a full-scale, coordinated military and intelligence offensive,” he said.

He also called for the creation of a unified security command structure to improve coordination of operations in high-risk areas and reduce bureaucratic delays.

According to him, insecurity is being sustained not only by armed groups but also by networks of collaborators, including illegal miners and intermediaries involved in ransom dealings, who must be identified and prosecuted.

“Bandits do not survive on AK-47s alone. They rely on networks of corrupt middlemen, illegal miners, ransom negotiators and local collaborators,” he said.

Buratai urged the federal government to adopt a comprehensive national security response aimed at preventing further deterioration and restoring public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.