Buratai, Defence Headquarters Push Tech Driven Warfare, Warn of AI Deepfakes
By Princess-Ekwi Ajide | IchieTimes
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has called for greater reliance on technology, intelligence led operations and community engagement to tackle insurgency and banditry in Nigeria.
Buratai made the call at the 2026 Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) conference, where he stressed that defeating armed groups requires more than conventional weapons and military operations.
He warned that military victories could be short lived without addressing the extremist ideologies, poverty and supply networks that sustain armed groups.
The former army chief advocated increased deployment of drones, artificial intelligence and integrated surveillance systems, noting that technology must complement human intelligence and local knowledge to achieve lasting security gains.
He also highlighted the media’s role in counter insurgency operations, recalling that he introduced embedded journalism during his tenure to enable reporters to access frontline troops, liberated communities and civilians affected by conflict.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, warned about the growing use of artificial intelligence generated videos, manipulated images and cloned voices to spread misinformation about military operations.
Uba said such deceptive content could trigger panic, weaken public confidence in the Armed Forces and undermine relationships between security personnel and the communities they protect.
He disclosed that the military was strengthening its defence space, surveillance and artificial intelligence capabilities to improve intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness.
Both speakers emphasised that technology, credible information and public trust have become increasingly important to Nigeria’s national security efforts.
The conference was held under the theme, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.”
