Africa Must Lead Response to Growing Security Threats, Buratai Tells Forum

By Zagazola Makama

Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has called for African-led solutions to the continent’s worsening security challenges, warning that the continent is facing an unprecedented convergence of threats requiring collective action.

Buratai made the call on Friday while delivering the keynote address titled, “Africa’s Priority Security Threats,” at the 32nd Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The retired army chief identified terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organised crime, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, governance-related instability, and the erosion of sovereignty through external dependence as the five major security threats confronting Africa.

According to him, the continent can no longer rely solely on external interventions but must strengthen regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and indigenous security capabilities.

Buratai described the Sahel as the global epicentre of terrorism, noting that the region now accounts for nearly half of all terror-related deaths worldwide.

He said that between January and November 2025, West Africa recorded about 450 terrorist attacks, resulting in more than 1,900 fatalities.

The former army chief noted that although Burkina Faso had recorded significant military gains under President Ibrahim Traoré, with government forces reclaiming about 72.7 per cent of occupied territories by June 2025 through Operation Lalmassga, extremist groups continued to stage deadly attacks.

He said intensified military operations in early 2026 reportedly eliminated at least 400 militants, but fresh attacks by jihadist groups, including those linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), underscored the persistent threat.

Buratai also expressed concern over the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saying the development had weakened regional intelligence-sharing and collective security efforts.

He warned that violent extremism was spreading beyond the Sahel into coastal West African countries, citing a sharp increase in attacks in northern Benin over the past three years.

On transnational organised crime, Buratai said West Africa was facing increasingly interconnected threats involving terrorism financing, piracy, arms trafficking, drug smuggling and cybercrime.

He noted that criminal networks were becoming more sophisticated and exploiting weak border controls, digital technologies and fragile governance structures to expand their operations across the region.

The retired general also identified cybersecurity as an emerging national security challenge, stressing that African countries must invest in cyber defence capabilities, digital infrastructure protection and regional cooperation to counter growing cyber threats.

Buratai urged African governments, policymakers and security institutions to adopt coordinated, home-grown strategies capable of addressing the continent’s evolving security landscape while safeguarding sovereignty and promoting sustainable peace and development.

He emphasised that lasting security on the continent would require stronger institutions, enhanced intelligence cooperation, economic resilience and greater political commitment among African nations.

Africa Must Lead Response to Growing Security Threats, Buratai Tells Forum

Airstrikes Destroy ISWAP Stronghold, Logistics Hub in Borno

By Zagazola Makama

The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has sustained its relentless air campaign against terrorist elements in the North-East, destroying a key terrorist enclave and logistics hub during a precision air interdiction mission in Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out at about 2:40 p.m. on Friday, July 10.

The sources disclosed that the target was located at Yaganari, a notorious terrorist enclave within the Gezuwa general area, where insurgents had reportedly been regrouping and consolidating logistics for planned operations.

According to the sources, the strike followed credible intelligence indicating increased terrorist activities and the massing of fighters at the location.

“Persistent ISR missions were conducted to verify the intelligence before any engagement. The surveillance platform positively identified multiple terrorist structures, logistics hubs and visible movement of insurgents within the objective area,” one of the sources said.

Following confirmation of the hostile activity, the aircraft acquired the designated targets and executed a series of precision attacks in successive passes, delivering onboard munitions with high accuracy.

The coordinated strikes destroyed the identified terrorist structures, obliterated logistics facilities and neutralized several terrorists operating within the enclave.

Military sources described the mission as another significant setback to terrorist operations in the North-East, noting that the destruction of logistics infrastructure would further degrade the insurgents’ ability to sustain attacks and coordinate movements.

The latest operation emphasis on intelligence-driven precision strikes aimed at dismantling terrorist command centres, safe havens and supply networks while supporting ongoing ground operations by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.

Security sources said battle damage assessment is ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted on the terrorist network, while air surveillance over the area has been intensified to exploit the success of the operation and prevent any attempt by surviving fighters to regroup.

Airstrikes Destroy ISWAP Stronghold, Logistics Hub in Borno

Group Questions Legality of FRSC Corps Marshal’s Tenure After Retirement Age

By: Michael Mike

The continued stay in office of the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has come under scrutiny following allegations that he has exceeded the mandatory retirement age without an official extension of his appointment.

The concerns were raised by the Justice and Fairness Vanguard (JFV), which claimed that Mohammed attained the compulsory retirement age of 60 about two months ago but has remained in office despite the absence of any public announcement extending his tenure.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by its Chairman, Audu Abubakar, and Secretary, Folake Abimbola, the group argued that the Public Service Rules require public officers to retire at the age of 60 or after 35 years of service, whichever comes first.

It maintained that although the FRSC boss has yet to complete 35 years in service, having joined the Corps in April 1992, reaching the age limit should have marked the end of his service.

The group said it was unaware of any directive from the Presidency approving an extension of Mohammed’s tenure, unlike what it described as previous cases where such approvals were publicly announced for the heads of other government agencies.

It also called for clarification on whether the office of the Corps Marshal is exempt from the retirement provisions applicable to public servants or is regulated by a separate tenure arrangement under the FRSC Establishment Act.

According to the organisation, allowing the Corps Marshal to remain in office beyond the retirement age could delay the promotion of senior officers and create uncertainty within the Corps’ leadership structure.

JFV further threatened legal action if the Federal Government failed to appoint a successor, insisting that the most senior Deputy Corps Marshal should assume the position in accordance with the law.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the FRSC were unsuccessful, as the Corps’ spokesman, Osondu Ohaeri, could not be reached.

However, a senior FRSC official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, rejected the claims. The official said Mohammed’s appointment is a fixed four-year presidential tenure that runs until 2028 and is therefore not subject to the retirement rules governing career civil servants.

Group Questions Legality of FRSC Corps Marshal’s Tenure After Retirement Age