Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), on Monday, cautioned that the increasing deployment of the military for internal security duties is undermining the Nigeria Police Force and other civilian security agencies, even though it provides short-term stability.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day lecture in Abuja, Buratai said: “The extensive deployment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in internal security provides immediate stability, but it also perpetuates a cycle of dependency that weakens civil police capacity and strains defence resources.”
He warned that the military’s widespread presence across Nigeria’s 36 states was eroding the growth of police and intelligence services, leaving the armed forces overstretched and diverting defence budgets to routine policing. “Internal security, more or less, should be civil-driven and intelligence-driven by the state intelligence services and the police, essentially,” he stressed.
Buratai reminded that the constitutional role of the armed forces is to defend against external aggression, protect territorial integrity, suppress insurrection, and assist civil authorities when required. He called for a clear, time-bound exit strategy to return internal security responsibilities to civilian agencies while preserving military readiness for external threats.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) urged a coordinated crackdown on criminal networks using local transport systems to move weapons and illicit goods. “Security is a shared responsibility. Local governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders and communities all have critical roles to play,” Musa said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a stronger, self-reliant armed forces, highlighting progress in locally manufactured defence equipment and reforms to boost indigenous defence industries.
Musa praised the armed forces’ professionalism, noting improved naval operations and maritime security. “Our Armed Forces have the capacity, the will and the resolve to defeat enemies of the state and safeguard our people,” he assured.
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