Buratai Calls on AU, ECOWAS to Classify Military Coups as Organised Crime

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Former chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf, has called on African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to classify military coups as organised crime.
President Bola Tinubu, who was elected chairman of the sub-regional body, had at a recent meeting of both organisations condemned military coups in the continent which he said stunted the growth of democracy in member states noting that in spite of the challenges of democratic rule, democracy remained the preferred system of government.
Buratai, who spoke at an international conference on “Organised Crime Network as Emergent Threats to National Security held at the Army Resource Center in Abuja, organised by the Igbinedion University, Okada in collaboration with the Buratai Center for Contemporary Security Affairs said the two international organisations should classify military coups in Africa in view of its malignant nature.
“Military coups should be classified as organised crime because it can spill over to other countries so I commend President Bola Tinubu and African Union for their stand against military coups in Africa. We need to come up with innovative solutions to address counterterrorism efforts and border control measures.
“They (military) can have many ways to influence the government to make sure that security role is played appropriately and also allow the democrats, the civilians, to perform their roles properly”, he said.
“The best way is for the military to remain within the constitutional bounds and also encourage the civil administration to do their best to solve the governance challenges or the developmental challenges of our country.
“It is by doing so that everybody playing his role, the democrats doing their own properly, the politicians, the military, the populace performing their own roles properly. The politicians and the military should try to avoid being influenced externally to disrupt the democratic process in the country”, he said.
Buratai said, “With Nigeria currently grappling with many emerging threats, the conference holds particular significance for the Bola Tinubu government, providing an opportunity to examine successful initiatives implemented elsewhere and adapt them to the local context.
“Organised crime refers to a complex network of individuals or groups engaging in unlawful activities, often with a well-defined hierarchy and operating in a systematic manner to achieve their objectives. They engage in violence, corruption or related activities in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or material benefit”.
The former army chief said “the causes of organised crime in the Sahel, particularly in Nigeria, are undoubtedly multifaceted. One of the primary contributing factors is the existence of porous borders, which allows for the easy movement of criminals and illegal goods across national boundaries.
“Also, prolonged conflicts in countries like Somalia, DR Congo, Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and now Sudan have a direct impact on the rise of organized crimes. Additionally, the prevalence of poverty and unemployment within the region creates a desperate environment that can push individuals towards criminal activities as a means of survival.
“Greed and the pursuit of personal gain contribute to the proliferation of criminal networks, as individuals are enticed by the potential financial rewards”.
The event was attended by service chiefs and former military chiefs.