Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on poverty in Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to tackle terrorism and insecurity.

Buratai said military operations alone would not end terrorism unless the government also addressed the socio-economic challenges that make vulnerable young people susceptible to extremist recruitment.

He made the call on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Lagos, during the public presentation of a book titled Beyond Military Force: A Strategy for Countering Terrorism in Nigeria, authored by Dr Joan Ugo Mbagwu.

The former army chief argued that poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and poor governance were among the conditions that terrorist groups exploit to recruit members and sustain their activities.

He stressed that military force could weaken terrorist organisations but could not independently resolve the underlying grievances that fuel extremism.

Buratai maintained that achieving lasting peace required a comprehensive approach combining security operations with good governance, economic opportunities, community engagement and regional cooperation.

He also emphasised the importance of intelligence gathering, noting that security agencies needed the trust and cooperation of local communities to obtain reliable information.

The retired general warned that human rights abuses during security operations could alienate communities and provide extremist groups with propaganda opportunities.

He further called for stronger counter-terrorism capacity within the Nigeria Police Force, arguing that the military should not be overstretched by performing responsibilities meant for civilian security agencies.

Buratai’s position reinforces calls for the Federal Government to complement military action with poverty reduction, education, employment and other development initiatives, particularly in communities affected by insecurity.