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A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd), narrowly survived a deadly ambush on Friday after gunmen believed to be Boko Haram insurgents opened fire on his convoy in Borno State.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, made this shocking revelation during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Sunday evening.
Ndume disclosed that the ambush occurred near a military base located on the frontline, where Buratai and his security detail came under intense gunfire.
“Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at the front operations base in Borno,” the senator stated.
“His team responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets.”
While he did not confirm the number of casualties, Ndume said that a heated gun battle ensued between the insurgents and the soldiers guarding the former army chief.
According to him, the attackers deliberately targeted and wrecked critical military vehicles such as tanks, machine guns, and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs).
“In some cases, they not only destroy these assets but also cart away equipment and weapons,” he added.
Ndume expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity in the state, warning that the situation was spiralling out of control.
“The situation in Borno is deteriorating rapidly. Insurgents now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis,” he warned.
He also took a broader view of Nigeria’s security woes, pointing out that no region in the country is free from violence.
“All six geopolitical zones are experiencing security challenges to varying degrees,” he said.
“Even in the South-South, we are grappling with economic sabotage like oil theft. At this point, the South-West appears to be the only relatively safe region.”
The attack on Buratai comes as pressure mounts on the Nigerian government to restructure its security operations, especially in the North-East where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue their reign of terror.
Buratai, who led the Nigerian Army from 2015 to 2021, played a prominent role in the nation’s war against terrorism.
Since stepping down, he has remained a key figure in security matters.