Former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.) has cautioned that the increasing deployment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for internal security operations nationwide is gradually weakening the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other civilian security agencies, security analysts and sources report.
Buratai made the remarks on Monday, January 12, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebrations and Remembrance Day lecture in Abuja.
Buratai observed that while military involvement in domestic security operations has provided short‑term stability, its ubiquitous presence across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory has created a “cycle of dependency” that undermines the growth, effectiveness and independence of institutions constitutionally mandated to handle internal security, particularly the police and state intelligence services.
“The extensive deployment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in internal security provides immediate stability, but it also perpetuates a cycle of dependency that weakens civil police capacity and strains defence resources,” he said.
He said the current trend has resulted in a “dangerous imbalance,” stretching military resources thinner while diverting defence budgets toward routine policing duties rather than focused preparation for conventional and external threats.
Buratai stressed that, under the 1999 Constitution, the military’s primary role is to defend Nigeria against external aggression, protect territorial integrity, suppress insurrection and provide aid to civil authorities only when necessary, urging a clear, time‑bound exit strategy to gradually return internal security responsibilities to civilian authorities.
“Internal security, more or less, should be civil‑driven and intelligence‑led by the state intelligence services and the police, essentially,” he emphasised, adding that Nigeria’s long‑term security and democratic stability depend on a strong, professional and well‑equipped police force with expanded operational capacities.
Buratai also warned that continued overreliance on the military for routine policing could compromise its ability to respond effectively to external threats and high‑intensity conflicts, potentially leaving the nation vulnerable.
He stressed that the military must not be permanently diverted from its core mandate or allowed to erode constitutional civilian institutions in the process.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa (retd.) underlined the importance of community engagement in combating insecurity, calling for coordinated efforts involving local governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders and citizens to disrupt criminal networks that exploit transport systems to move weapons and illicit materials. Musa described security as a “shared responsibility” that transcends military intervention.
Musa also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a “professional, self‑reliant Nigerian Armed Forces,” highlighting progress in local defence production to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and deepen the country’s defence industrial base.
Security analysts say Buratai’s comments reflect growing concern over the structural implications of prolonged military engagement in domestic policing, arguing that a phased shift back to a strengthened civilian police architecture could enhance both rule of law and institutional resilience in Nigeria’s security ecosystem.
