Ex-COAS reveals how deployment of Military in internal security is weakening the Police
Ex-COAS reveals how deployment of Military in internal security is weakening the Police
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai (retd), has warned that the increasing deployment of Nigeria’s Armed Forces for internal security is undermining the capacity of the police and other civilian security agencies.
Buratai made the remarks on Monday while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebrations and Remembrance Day lecture at the National Defence College, Abuja.
He expressed concern that the military’s widespread presence across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while providing short-term stability, is gradually weakening the growth and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force and intelligence agencies that should lead internal security operations.
“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,” Buratai said.
He added that this overextension not only diverts defence budgets to routine policing duties but also reduces the military’s readiness to respond to conventional threats.
Constitutionally, he emphasised, the Armed Forces are mandated to defend the nation against external aggression, protect territorial integrity, suppress insurrection, and support civil authorities when needed.
Buratai argued that internal security should remain civil-led and intelligence-driven, with the police and state security services taking the lead. He called for a clear, time-bound exit strategy that would gradually return internal security responsibilities to civilian agencies while preserving the military’s operational readiness.
He stressed that Nigeria’s long-term security and democratic stability depend on strong, well-equipped police and intelligence services, with the military reserved for exceptional circumstances.
Earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), urged a coordinated crackdown on criminal networks using local transport systems to move weapons, drugs, and other illicit materials.
Musa emphasised that tackling such security challenges requires the participation of local governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community members, describing security as a shared responsibility beyond the armed forces.
