POROUS BORDER, A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR TO INSECURITY IN NIGERIA – Buratai

POROUS BORDER, A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR TO INSECURITY IN NIGERIA – Buratai

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

Nigeria’s porous border has been identified as one major contributory factor to the insecurity problem we are experiencing in the country today.

Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd) stated this, while delivering a lecture titled, “Politics and Insecurity In Nigeria: Way Forward”  at a one-day Symposium on National Security at the Arewa House, Kaduna.

It has been proven that porous borders have aided illegal proliferation of arms into the country as well as encouraged criminal activities.

In charting a way forward, he noted the importance of adopting a whole of society’s approach in confronting the monstrous beast (insecurity) bedeviling the nation.

The use of kinetic (application of military force) approach in finding solution to the problem not withstanding, focus he said should be geared more towards non-kinetic (non military) measures that will aim at addressing the underlying root causes of the insecurity rather than treating the symptoms.

Emphasizing the importance of dialogue and the need to encourage  local manufacturing of military equipment as a way forward, he explained that,

“Kinetic means are employed to create conditions for negotiations, mediations and dialogue.

“Accordingly, some of the ways that could be adopted to contain the challenge of insecurity include adoption of comprehensive and integrated approach and sustaining the ongoing judicial reforms.

“Others include revitalization of DICON, sustaining the ongoing reform of the NP and procurement of modern platforms and systems for intelligent gathering.”

Buratai in his call urged every hand to be on deck to fight the common enemy saying,

” If you eliminate their leaders, (bandits) others continue to recruit more members.

The question is,

What about their political leaders in the town?”

Security has remained our major issue over the years. The issue of insecurity needs the adoption of a more comprehensive and integrated approach. He stressed.