Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd), has said Nigerian troops are holding their ground despite ongoing insurgency, particularly in the Northeast.
He shared this on Friday, the 20th of March, 2026, during an appearance on ‘Politics Today,’ a programme aired on Channels Television, where he addressed the country’s security situation, including insurgency and banditry.
Buratai dismissed claims that insurgents are overpowering the military, noting that troops remain in control while operations continue across affected regions.
“I don’t see that the insurgency is somehow overwhelming the troops. We are okay. Now we have more enablers in terms of drones.
“A lot of platforms have been injected but the military still needs more of such platforms and the enablers.
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“If you look at the landmass of the Northeast only, it’s quite enormous. This is what we have always talked about even during our time.
“If you look at it, the troops are so dispersed. Manpower and equipment are challenges,” he said.
He also pointed to the vast terrain in the Northeast as a major operational hurdle, explaining that the spread of troops across the region continues to strain both personnel and resources.