A former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has blamed the rising wave of insecurity, banditry and school abductions in the country on political transitions and the activities of some politicians who allegedly benefit from criminal violence.
Buratai made the remarks during an interview on TVC News while reacting to the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State.
According to him, some politicians have over the years recruited and sponsored criminal elements for political purposes, only for such groups to evolve into terrorists and bandits.
“Unfortunately, the plain truth is that some politicians benefit from the activities of these terrorists,” he alleged.
The former Army chief said insecurity often worsens during periods of political transition when security operations experience disruptions and funding challenges.
He noted that terrorist groups and bandits appear to intensify their activities during election seasons and transitions from one administration to another.
“You discover that these terrorists or insurgents have a particular pattern, mainly when there are political activities or when there are transitions from one administration to the other,” he said.
Buratai attributed the trend partly to delays in funding and operational adjustments that sometimes accompany changes in government, creating opportunities for criminal groups to exploit security gaps.
Commenting on the recent school abduction in Oyo State, he urged Nigerians to appreciate the complexities involved in hostage rescue operations, stressing that the safety of victims must remain the priority.
He cautioned against hasty military action that could endanger abducted students and teachers, describing rescue missions as delicate operations requiring intelligence, patience and precision.
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