Nigeria has many ungovernable spaces, it will take another twenty years to end insurgency, banditry – Buratai

By our reporter| Nigeria has many ungovernable spaces, leading to widespread insecurity, the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai said on Thursday.

Buratai, who made the remark while being screened at the National Assembly for an ambassadorial position, lamented that terrorists have permeated the Nigerian society and won several communities to their side.

According to him, the solution requires a multi-pronged approach as military warfare alone cannot be the solution.

“Our troops are also collaborating with Chadian and Cameroonian troops. We recorded successes. But the terrorists have permeated into the society.

“My state (Borno) is an epicentre where this indoctrination has penetrated so deep. It is not something you can get right over night.

“Only the military cannot solve this problem. There were socio-economic factors that need to be addressed. There should be basic amenities, but they are missing.

“I can count five local government areas in Borno without good road. The same thing is in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto. In other northern states, there are so many ungovernable spaces, because of lack of access road and other basic amenities.

The former COAS further stated that government must as a matter of urgency provide infrastructure in infiltrated communities to win over the people.

He also predicted that it will take another twenty years to resolve the current crisis.

“This crisis might not end in 20 years’ time. We have achieved a lot of successes but we cannot continue to use the same tactics and achieve different results,” he said.