From Chaos to Coordination: The Case for Veteran Security Leaders in Nigeria

FEMI OYEWALE

As Nigeria grapples with a fresh and more diffuse wave of violent attacks—from mass abductions and jihadist offensives in the northeast to rising banditry and communal violence across the North and Middle Belt—citizens and policymakers are asking a pressing question: who is fit to lead the country out of this security quagmire? For many, the answer is clear: experienced security professionals who combine operational expertise, institutional memory, and political acumen—traits embodied by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

A deteriorating security landscape

This is no rhetorical problem. In recent months, insurgent activity has surged: mass kidnappings of schoolchildren, renewed offensives by IS-affiliated factions in the Lake Chad Basin, and a humanitarian fallout that has pushed millions toward food insecurity. United Nations and humanitarian assessments warn that escalating attacks and aid shortfalls may leave record numbers of Nigerians vulnerable to hunger.

The federal government has responded with declarations and expanded recruitment. President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide emergency and moved to increase policing and security deployments following high-profile kidnappings. But analysts argue that while necessary, these steps are insufficient without a deeper overhaul of strategy, intelligence, and civil-military coordination.

What experienced security actors bring

Supporters of involving seasoned security leaders point to several complementary strengths:

1. Operational know-how and strategic continuity

Career generals like Buratai have overseen complex counter-insurgency campaigns and institutional reforms. Their experience—ranging from combined-arms operations and logistics under duress to theater-level coordination with regional partners—is not easily replaced. Buratai himself has argued that simplistic personnel changes will not end insurgency without properly understood strategies.

2. Intelligence and information integration

Modern insurgencies thrive on intelligence gaps: porous borders, weak human networks, and poor data-sharing between military, police, and civil authorities. Experienced security professionals are better positioned to rebuild intelligence architectures, including cross-border liaison in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, where jihadist groups operate across borders. Recent analyses highlight this cross-border threat environment and stress the need for coordinated military and intelligence responses.

3. Institutional reform and troop welfare

Studies of Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram highlight recurring problems: low troop morale, logistical shortfalls, intelligence leaks, and strained community relations—all of which blunt operational effectiveness. Experts with institutional experience can advocate structural reforms—improved supply chains, training, and rules of engagement—that strengthen forces without alienating civilians.

4. Political navigation and credibility

Security solutions in Nigeria require buy-in at federal, state, and local levels. Former service chiefs often retain connections inside government and among regional partners and can serve as intermediaries between uniformed forces and civilian authorities—a role proven critical in past crises. Buratai’s recent public interventions on national security issues demonstrate how ex-service chiefs continue shaping public debate and policy.

Acknowledging risks and criticisms

Inviting former generals into leadership roles is not a panacea. Critics cite potential issues: militarization of civilian governance, heavy-handed tactics that alienate communities, and insufficient focus on root causes such as poverty, governance gaps, youth unemployment, and communal grievances. Military success must be paired with governance, development, and reconciliation for durable peace.

There is also a political dimension: using high-profile military figures risks politicizing security campaigns if appointments are perceived as partisan or operational freedom is constrained. Transparency, clear legal mandates, and civilian oversight are essential safeguards.

A pragmatic middle path: experts as partners, not replacements

The most defensible approach is hybrid: appoint or empower seasoned security experts as advisers and architects of reform while ensuring civilian control and robust safeguards. Key policy measures include:

Integrated intelligence reform: Build interoperable systems fusing military, police, and domestic security data; strengthen cross-border intelligence sharing in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.

Focused professionalization of forces: Prioritize logistics, asymmetric warfare training, troop welfare, and clear rules of engagement to reduce abuses and improve morale.

Community-centered stabilization: Pair operations with local security committees, humanitarian access, agricultural support, and reconciliation to deny insurgents social support.

Regional and international coordination: Work with neighboring states, ECOWAS, the African Union, and partners to close safe havens and cut finance and supply lines for extremist groups.

Clear civilian oversight and legal frameworks: Ensure any role for former senior officers is defined by statutes, reporting lines, and parliamentary oversight.

Nigeria’s security challenge in 2025 is complex and urgent: the country faces a resurgent, adaptive insurgency network with severe humanitarian consequences. Discarding institutional know-how is a luxury Nigeria cannot afford. Experienced security professionals like Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai are not magic bullets—but they bring operational experience, institutional knowledge, and networks that, when embedded within a framework emphasizing civilian oversight, development, and regional cooperation, can materially improve Nigeria’s chances of restoring security.

The essential test will be whether policymakers pair expert military advice with meaningful reforms in intelligence, governance, and community engagement—otherwise, the cycle of violence and humanitarian suffering will continue.

THE INDISPENSABLE PILLAR: WHY GOVERNOR ZULUM’S SPIRITUAL WARFARE STRATEGY IS NIGERIA’S MISSING LINK TO TOTAL VICTORY

In the ongoing, multi-layered war against terror, one strategic pillar continues to rise above the noise and prove its timeless relevance. That pillar is spiritual fortification. It was with a deep sense of affirmation that I witnessed His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the indefatigable Governor of Borno State, declare a statewide day of fasting and prayer in November 2025. His action reinforces a universal military truth: no nation can secure its territory without first strengthening its spirit.

Governor Zulum, who carries the enormous responsibility of leading a state at the epicentre of Nigeria’s insurgency crisis, addressed his people with a conviction that mirrors my long-held beliefs. His words were striking: “As a people of faith, we believe our security strategies must be underpinned by prayer.” This is not a substitute for kinetic force; rather, it is the power source behind it. By calling for unity across all faiths, the Governor displayed a rare, visionary leadership—recognising that lasting peace requires collective strength that transcends creed, tribe, and ideology.

His action stands as a modern, real-time validation of the philosophy I championed during my service years. It also echoes the scholarly arguments of the late Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, who demonstrated—through global history and intelligence case studies—that spiritual engagement is a legitimate and potent layer of national defence. From ancient victories shaped by divine guidance to contemporary security agencies quietly integrating spiritual resources, the trend is unmistakable. Governor Zulum’s initiative is this principle transformed into actionable strategy for Nigeria’s unique realities.

This moment demands not a return to old criticisms, but a unified national response. Our gallant security forces must continue to receive every resource required for decisive kinetic action. Simultaneously, the nation must mobilize its spiritual might. I therefore stand firmly with Governor Zulum and call on the Federal Government and all Nigerians to embrace this dual formula—overwhelming physical force, supported by unyielding spiritual resolve.

Nigeria’s path to peace and prosperity requires battle on every front. The bravery of our troops in the field must be matched by the faith of our people in the unseen realm. It is this powerful convergence of courage and conviction that will ultimately deliver the lasting victory our nation seeks.

Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd), CFR

Former Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army

*Triangle Of Disgrace…Tunde Ayeni Considers Reconciling with Adaobi Alagwu And Her Mother Renew Saga Of Lust, Moral Collapse.*

When influential businessman Tunde Ayeni signed the startling affidavit denying any marital bond with Adaobi Alagwu, it marked the unmasking of a double life he had managed for years. Publicly, he was the devoted husband and respected professional. Privately, he navigated a secret relationship that, once exposed, unfurled into a drama that astonished even those familiar with the power games of elite society. The affidavit forced into daylight the contrast between the admired statesman and the man privately unraveling as he tried to juggle conflicting loyalties.

Rather than retreat to rebuild her dignity, Adaobi channeled her fury not at Tunde but at his wife, Biola, and those close to her. Leveraging her connections to bloggers and online commentators, she promoted the narrative that these women conspired to ruin her name. This deflection enabled her to maintain the privileges she had grown accustomed to luxury housing, staff, an elevated lifestyle, and even employment opportunities for her brother, all courtesy of Tunde’s influence.

Now, with Tunde trying to reclaim his properties and salvage what remained of his reputation, the Alagwu family appears to be scrambling, sending intermediaries to negotiate an out-of-court truce. Yet the damage done to him; his image tarnished, his children dragged into public ridicule, and a swarm of scandals refusing to fade; seems nearly impossible to reverse. When contacted by the press, Tunde declared that he owed Adaobi nothing and urged her to focus on resolving her personal issues rather than continuing the conflict.

Despite the insults, police cases, leaked videos, and legal disputes, Adaobi remains determined to restore her place in Tunde’s life. Encouraged by her mother, she continues to attempt a path back to being his favored companion, even though she is currently engaged to a younger man. Shockingly, Tunde has at times cooperated with her approaches, creating a bizarre loop of conflict, reconciliation, and renewed chaos.

To understand how this saga spiraled into its current state, one must trace it back to its beginnings.

For decades, Tunde Ayeni was considered a figure of authority and composure. He mastered the corporate world with discipline, strategy, and a presence that commanded respect. But in recent years, a string of questionable personal decisions thrust him into the unforgiving arena of public scrutiny. At the center of this fall from grace was his entanglement with Adaobi; an affair that began quietly but grew into a scandal that radiated through every part of his life.
Reports now suggest that Tunde is contemplating accepting Adaobi back, a move that observers find both perplexing and tragic. They see a man once humiliated by scandal walking back into the flames, risking further erosion of the reputation he spent decades building.

The stakes for Tunde could not be clearer. When the affair first became public, he suffered personal embarrassment and professional setbacks. His home life was upended, business partners grew wary, and the dignified aura that once surrounded him began to crack. At the core of the domestic fallout was his wife, Biola, who initially defended him. She dismissed allegations of marriage between her husband and Adaobi, insisting the child involved was not his. But her certainty collapsed when legal proceedings allegedly revealed that Tunde had participated in a private cultural ceremony at Adaobi’s family home; a symbolic act often equated with marriage.
The discovery was devastating. Biola, who had publicly defended her husband, reportedly removed her wedding ring and declared she had reached her limit. The scandal ceased being rumor; it became a personal devastation. For her, the betrayal cut deeper than infidelity; it was a breach of trust at a level she could not endure.
Professionally, Tunde’s troubles multiplied. Colleagues who once valued his counsel now viewed him through the lens of scandal. Corporate circles are often forgiving of private indiscretions; if the individual displays distance, remorse, and discipline. But Tunde’s situation worsened instead. Leaked conversations, rumors, and, most catastrophically, explicit images and videos featuring him and Adaobi circulated online. The sight of a respected executive entangled in such content shocked the community. His name, formerly associated with elite negotiations and boardroom influence, became linked to tabloid-level scandal.
This downfall became a wildfire beyond his control, consuming his credibility and raising questions about his judgment. Critics noted that this was not his first questionable entanglement, citing earlier romantic scandals that painted a pattern of emotional recklessness.

The possibility that Tunde might rekindle a relationship with Adaobi only deepens concerns. To many, it signals a troubling inability to break free from the circumstances that nearly destroyed him. It reinforces the narrative of self-inflicted damage: a man not merely undone by scandal, but by repeated choices that keep reopening old wounds.

If Tunde’s story illustrates how unchecked desire can sabotage stability, Adaobi’s story is a portrait of dependency and audacity. For years, she was the younger woman whose presence disrupted Tunde’s marriage and professional life. Yet even after the scandal, legal battles, and public humiliation, she continues seeking a return to the man whose involvement has already harmed both their reputations.

Her behavior is especially striking given that she is currently engaged to a younger partner, Efe, four years her junior. Despite preparing for a new life, she remains fixated on Tunde’s world. To observers, it is a bewildering contradiction; a pursuit that undermines her engagement while tethering her to a relationship that brought her notoriety.

Financial dependence plays a key role. Sources familiar with her situation suggest Adaobi continued receiving allowances, luxury housing, and other benefits from Tunde even during the height of the scandal. Attempts by friends to push her toward independence were often rebuffed, leaving many convinced that her choices were driven more by convenience and access than emotional attachment.

Complicating matters is the involvement of Adaobi’s mother, who insiders describe as deeply invested in her daughter’s entanglement. She reportedly facilitated meetings, encouraged secrecy around sensitive matters, and even orchestrated strategic decisions intended to maximize her daughter’s access to Tunde’s resources. She allegedly moved Adaobi into one of Tunde’s properties, negotiated favors, and positioned her daughter to maintain influence.
This level of involvement has drawn sharp criticism. Many see it as a troubling reversal of parental duty; guidance replaced by manipulation, protection overshadowed by ambition. Her mother’s willingness to negotiate benefits and cultivate connections through her daughter’s relationship added fuel to the scandal and prolonged Adaora’s dependency.

Even now, the cycle continues. Adaobi’s attempts to keep one foot in her engagement while extending another toward her past lover illustrate a dynamic that observers describe as both bold and self-defeating. She continues to oscillate between the promise of a stable future with Efe and the lure of influence and luxury she once enjoyed with Tunde.

Collectively, the trio; Tunde, Adaobi, and her mother form a case study in how desire, ambition, and personal weakness can intersect to disastrous effect. Tunde risks returning to the very dynamic that nearly destroyed his life. Adaobi risks her future with a new partner and what remains of her public image. Her mother’s relentless strategic maneuvering complicates everything further, creating an environment fueled by opportunism rather than integrity.
In the end, their story is less about scandal and more about the consequences of choices how personal decisions can ripple outward, reshaping families, reputations, and public narratives in ways no one can fully control.