Brigadier General Tukur Yusuf Buratai was born in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of Borno on 24 Novermber 1960.

His military career started with his attendance and participation in Civil/military courses. He was a member of the Regular course 29 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (3 Jan-17 Dec1983). In 1982, he graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna. Gen Buratai attended the Senior and Junior Courses in Jaji respectively. He also attended the Young Officers course (infantry) at NASI Jaji and Anti Tank PI comd’s course at NASI, Jaji (17 Aug-12 Oct 1984)

He has also undergone training courses on Waterman ship (military) Citizenship and Leadership Training Center ALU, Port-Harcourt, computer appreciation, and Joint OPS Coaching Course, AFCSC, Jaji (3-7 Mar2003)

His  quest for knowledge and expertise took him to Canada where he ran a course on Disarmament ,Demobilization and Re- integration Course(DDR),(15Aug-1 sept 2000).The General was in Bangladesh  National Defence course, National Defence College from 13 Jan-17  Dec 2008.Brigadier General Buratai has a Degree in Bachelor of Arts (HONS) from the University of Maiduguri(1987-1990), Masters of Arts(HISTORY) University of Maiduguri1990-1992, Grade II teachers certificate Potiskum Teachers College(1975-1980) and he graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna with a certificate in Education  in 1982.

He also have operational experiences in UN operation in Angola (UNAVEM II), OP HARMONY IV(81 & 82 Bn).To broaden his horizon, Brigadier General Buratai attended seminars and workshops which includes; A Management Course. Ahmadu Bello University Consultant, ABUCON Zaria in 2000, International Conference for Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (31 May-4Jun 2004). Also at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria “Maximizing the use of Budgets in the Public Sector: planning, Budgeting and Budget control”. At US Defence institute of international legal studies,  he attended Executive seminar on Peace- keeping for Decision Makers (21-25Aug 2006).

 General Buratai has held several command and staff positions in the Nigerian Army.
As a commander, he was a Platoon Commander, Company Second-in-Command, Company Commander and Battalion Second-in-Command. His staff appointments include; Staff Officer, General Staff Officer Grade I Training/ operations, Assistant chief of Staff G1 (ADMIN), A member of the Directing Staff. He was also a UN Military Observer and COL plans/ DD plans. Presently he is the Director of Land Warfare, AFCSC, Jaji.

It is worthy of note that Brigadier General Buratai has travelled far and wide, some of the countries he has visited are Canada, Ethiopia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Turkey, Ghana, Togo, Botswana, Malasyia, Australia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Thailand and Singapore. His hobbies are jogging and writing. He is happily married and he is blessed with children.