By Attah Attah
Nigeria’s security challenges have grown beyond the conventional understanding of terrorism. Over the years, terrorism has become entangled with banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, religious violence and ransom-taking. These threats have spread across different parts of the country, weakened the sense of security in many communities and continued to place pressure on the nation’s economy and social life.
It was against this difficult security situation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff on October 24, 2025. His appointment brought to the position an officer with considerable operational experience and a practical understanding of the challenges confronting the Armed Forces.
At the centre of his approach has been the need for closer cooperation among the services and better coordination with other security institutions.
General Oluyede has since assumption of office, placed strong emphasis on joint operations involving the Army, Navy and Air Force. The thinking behind this is simple: the security challenges facing the country are too complex for any single service to tackle alone. Each service has its own strengths, but those strengths become more effective when they are properly coordinated and deployed toward a common objective.
His operational background has also been an advantage. Having served in demanding military formations and taken part in operations against insurgents and bandits, he understands the importance of speed, accurate information and effective coordination on the battlefield. This experience has informed his insistence on maintaining pressure on criminal and terrorist groups, particularly in parts of the North-West and North-East.
But the fight against insecurity cannot be won through military force alone. This is one area where the General’s approach deserves particular attention. His decision to bring military veterans into the wider security effort recognises that retired personnel still possess valuable experience that can be put to use in preventing conflicts and strengthening peace at the community level.
Many violent conflicts do not begin as major security emergencies. They often start with disputes between communities, disagreements over land, local grievances or other tensions that are allowed to fester. When such problems are identified early, they can sometimes be settled before they develop into violence. Veterans, with their discipline, experience and knowledge of local environments, can play a useful role in this area.
The veteran engagement initiative therefore goes beyond conventional military operations. It gives retired personnel an opportunity to contribute to mediation, conflict resolution, peacebuilding and early warning. In many communities, a respected former military officer may be able to open doors, calm tensions and encourage dialogue in ways that conventional security operations cannot.
The Defence Headquarters has consequently explored partnerships with organisations representing retired members of the Armed Forces and institutions involved in mediation and conflict-resolution training. Such programmes as put in place by General Oluyede, are intended to equip veterans with additional skills that can be applied in communities affected by disputes and insecurity. The involvement of the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Legion further strengthens the prospects of making better use of retired personnel.
The Chief of Defence Staff also understands that Information remains another critical part of the strategy. Security agencies need reliable information from communities to identify threats before they become full-blown crises. This is why he has established a better relationship between local communities and security agencies in order to improve the flow of information and help security personnel respond more quickly to emerging dangers.
He has extended the same principle to Nigeria’s international security partnerships, since terrorists, kidnappers, arms traffickers and other criminal groups do not always respect national boundaries.
General Oluyede understands that cooperation with neighbouring countries and international partners is therefore necessary to deal with threats that extend beyond Nigeria’s borders, as he has provided room for intelligence sharing, joint efforts and stronger defence relationships that can make it more difficult for criminal networks to operate across the region.
The welfare of personnel and the protection of civilians are equally important to him. The CDS knows that soldiers who operate under difficult conditions need adequate support, equipment and motivation.
At the same time, he has insisted that military operations must maintain respect for the rights and dignity of civilians. To him, building trust between the military and the communities it protect is essential, particularly in areas where insurgency and banditry have created deep fear and suspicion.
His efforts also fit into the wider security reforms of the Tinubu administration, where there has been an expansion of military formations to bring security operations closer to affected communities, increased attention to defence funding, improved training and the strengthening of intelligence capabilities to give the Armed Forces greater capacity to respond to threats.
Although Nigeria still grapple with security challenges, the emphasis on cooperation and synergy under General Oluyede provides a broader framework for confronting them.
This approach will ultimately make criminal networks lose their influence thereby making communities safer, compelling Nigerians to regain confidence in the ability of the state to protect lives and property.
Attah is a public affairs analyst based in Bosso, Niger State.