In a chilling reminder of the persistent insecurity plaguing Nigeria’s northeastern region, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd), narrowly escaped death on Friday after his convoy came under a hail of gunfire in Borno State.
The incident was revealed in a post on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Nigerian Stories, which announced the breaking news of the attempted ambush on the retired general. While details remain sketchy, sources suggest that the convoy was attacked by suspected insurgents while navigating a volatile axis of Borno—one of the epicenters of Boko Haram and ISWAP activity.
Witnesses claim the gunmen opened fire with heavy-caliber weapons, riddling vehicles in the convoy with bullets in what appeared to be a coordinated and deliberate strike. Fortunately, Lt. Gen. Buratai and members of his security detail managed to escape the ambush unscathed after engaging in a brief but intense firefight that repelled the assailants.
Buratai, who served as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021 and played a key role in counter-insurgency operations during his tenure, is widely regarded as a central figure in the nation’s war against terrorism. His survival has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many expressing both relief and concern over the apparent resurgence of coordinated attacks in the region.
Security analysts are now raising alarms over the brazenness of the ambush, pointing out that if a high-profile figure like Buratai could be targeted, ordinary citizens and frontline soldiers remain deeply vulnerable.
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Borno State Government has issued an official statement on the incident. However, sources close to Buratai have confirmed that investigations are underway, and heightened security measures have been put in place across key flashpoints in the region.
The attempted assassination of the former army chief marks yet another unsettling chapter in Nigeria’s long battle with terrorism and raises critical questions about the current state of national security.
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