Intelligence Gathering Critical to Tackling Insecurity — Buratai
Retired Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, has identified intelligence as a critical component in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges, saying effective intelligence gathering and utilisation remain central to understanding threats and developing appropriate responses.
Buratai spoke in Gora, Nasarawa state, at the presentation of the book Defence, Intelligence and Statecraft, written in his honour.
He said intelligence was indispensable to national security because security agencies must understand the nature, location and activities of threats before they can effectively confront them, hence the need for security institutions to strengthen their intelligence-gathering capabilities and ensure that information obtained is properly analysed and translated into actionable strategies.
He said effective security management required not only military strength, but also accurate intelligence, strategic thinking, diplomacy and sound decision-making.
Buratai, who reflected on his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, said his experiences in the military had reinforced his conviction that intelligence must remain at the centre of security operations noting that military commanders required reliable intelligence to deploy troops effectively, allocate resources appropriately and respond promptly to emerging threats.
Dr. Sunday Adejo, co-author of the book, described Buratai as a mentor whose influence extended beyond the military to the academic community.
Adejo said Buratai’s leadership contributed to innovations in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, including the establishment of Forward Operating Bases and other measures aimed at bringing military presence closer to communities facing security threats.
Another co-author, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar, said the book provided an opportunity to examine Nigeria’s security experiences and draw lessons that could strengthen the country’s response to contemporary threats.
The event brought together academics, researchers, military professionals, including retired Colonel Gbenga Adegbola, and other stakeholders who paid tribute to Buratai’s career and contributions to national security describing the publication, as an enduring record of Buratai’s experiences and contributions, as well as a reference point for future scholarship on defence, intelligence and strategic leadership.
