Former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has raised serious concerns about national security following a confrontation between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and a military officer.
Military Confrontation Sparks Security Alert
The incident occurred on November 11, 2025, when Minister Wike reportedly confronted a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces in public. The former Army Chief, who served as Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin after leading the army between 2015 and 2021, described the minister's actions as reckless and dangerous.
In a strongly worded statement posted on his verified Facebook page, Buratai condemned what he termed a "verbal assault" on the military officer. He emphasized that such behavior goes beyond mere misconduct and represents a genuine threat to the nation's security framework.
Chain of Command Under Threat
Buratai argued that Wike's actions deliberately undermine the military chain of command and show disrespect to the authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief. The retired general stated that this type of confrontation severely damages the morale of all military personnel serving under the Nigerian flag.
"This cannot be dismissed as political theatre," Buratai declared, labeling the incident as "reckless endangerment of national order." He accused the FCT Minister of undermining the Federal Government's authority through his conduct toward the uniformed officer.
Demand for Immediate Apology
The former military leader has called for immediate and decisive action in response to the incident. He insists that Minister Wike must offer a public apology to three key entities:
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief
- The entire Nigerian Armed Forces
- The specific officer whose honor was violated
Buratai emphasized that national security must remain the top priority, warning against what he described as "politics of military bashing." He stressed that the integrity of Nigeria's Armed Forces demands nothing less than full accountability for the minister's actions.
The statement concludes with a firm declaration that decisive action rather than political maneuvering is necessary to address what Buratai considers a clear threat to the nation's security apparatus and institutional integrity.
