Retired Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, narrowly escaped an ambush in Borno State on Friday after suspected Boko Haram militants attacked his convoy.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, disclosed the incident during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday. He revealed that the attack took place near a frontline military base and involved heavy gunfire.
“Just two days ago, General Buratai was ambushed at a front operations base in Borno,” Ndume said. “Though his security team responded bravely, the insurgents succeeded in destroying some military equipment.”
While the number of casualties remains unconfirmed, Ndume said the firefight between the soldiers and the attackers was intense. He noted that the insurgents targeted high-value military assets, including tanks, machine guns, and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs).
“In many of these incidents, the attackers either destroy or make away with military hardware,” he added.
Ndume voiced concern over the worsening security situation in Borno, warning that the state is sliding into a deeper crisis.
“Insurgents are moving freely and targeting military positions. The situation is becoming alarming,” he said.
He also commented on the broader insecurity across the country, stressing that no region is immune from violence. “From the North to the South, insecurity is spreading. In the South-South, there’s oil theft; only the South-West appears relatively stable,” he remarked.
The assault on Buratai’s convoy comes amid renewed calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security strategy, particularly in the North-East where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to launch deadly attacks.
Buratai, who served as Army Chief between 2015 and 2021, was a central figure in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts and has remained involved in security-related affairs since his retirement.
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