Former presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, has revealed that late President Muhammadu Buhari gave a strong and emotional order to Nigeria’s security chiefs in 2021, asking them to eliminate terrorists without mercy.
In a tribute following Buhari’s recent death, Adesina said the former president was deeply concerned about the worsening insecurity at the time and wanted urgent action.
“When insurgency reached its peak in 2021, and he met with the service chiefs, he was almost pleading: ‘Wipe out these people. Kill them. They don’t deserve to live. Nigerians love me and trust me. That’s why they keep voting for me. Wipe them out,’” Adesina said.
According to Adesina, Buhari gave the order during a high-level security meeting attended by top military leaders. At the time, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was the Chief of Army Staff. He reportedly responded by assuring Buhari that the military would act as soon as the awaited weapons and equipment arrived.
Sadly, Gen. Attahiru died just a week later in a military plane crash, a major setback in the fight against terrorism.
The revelation gives new insight into Buhari’s state of mind during the difficult years of Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and other terror groups. Buhari, a retired general and former military ruler, served as civilian president from 2015 to 2023. His administration was often criticized for insecurity, but Adesina’s account suggests Buhari was personally frustrated and determined to end the violence.