Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf, a former head of the Army Staff, has requested that the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) classify military coups as organised crime.

At a recent meeting of both organisations, President Bola Tinubu, who was chosen to lead the sub-regional body, denounced military coups across the continent for stunting the development of democracy in its member states. He added that despite these challenges, democracy was still the preferred form of government.

Speaking at an international conference on “Organised Crime Network as Emergent Threats to National Security” organised by Igbinedion University, Okada in partnership with the Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs in Abuja, Buratai suggested that the two international organisations classify military coups in Africa due to their 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 stated, “There is no doubt that there are many different factors contributing to organised crime in the Sahel, particularly in Nigeria.  The existence of porous borders, which make it simple for criminals and illegal goods to cross international borders, is one of the main causes.

“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”.

Service chiefs and previous military chiefs were present at the event.