Former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt.-General Tukur Buratai (rtd), has denied claims linking him, “directly or indirectly,” to terrorism financing, calling the allegations entirely false
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by his former Army spokesperson, Brig.-General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Buratai described the claims as “false, unfounded, mischievous, and a deliberate smear campaign” aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The statement followed an online publication linking him and other prominent individuals to terrorism financiers.
“At no point in his distinguished career has he ever been questioned, investigated, indicted, or associated with any such matter by any official body or authority. No security institution, intelligence agency, judicial panel, diplomatic mission, oversight mechanism, or administrative body has ever linked him with terrorism financing in any form,” the statement said.
It further criticized the publication by Sahara Reporters, which relied solely on the unverified claims of Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd), calling the report a “clear misrepresentation borne out of malice” without factual or legal basis.
The statement described the attempt to discredit Buratai as “regrettable, though unsurprising,” noting that such attempts have been made repeatedly over the years but have failed due to his transparent and honourable record of service.
Highlighting his four-decade military career, Buratai’s statement emphasized his commitment to defeating terrorism. Under his leadership, the Nigerian Army reportedly weakened Boko Haram and ISWAP, reclaimed occupied territories, restored civil administration, and facilitated the return of displaced Nigerians to their homes.
“It defies logic and conscience to suggest that the same person who led decisive actions against terrorism would in any way be associated with the very elements he spent his career confronting,” the statement said.
The statement concluded with a call for Sahara Reporters and Major General Ali-Keffi to retract the publication and issue an unreserved public apology. It warned that failure to do so would compel Buratai to pursue legal action to protect his reputation and seek redress for the alleged malicious claims.
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I have heard of this before – even while he was still in office. Any soldier that deard to kill a terrorist during his time, was severely punished by this same Buratai.
He was protecting the terrorists. He didn’t want the problem of insecurity to end during his time in office, because he was making a lot of money from funds allocated to tackle insecurity.
I remembered when the late buhari warned against reprisal when the islamic terrorists killed and ran away