The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has announced plans to deploy special forces to Kwara State and parts of Niger State as part of intensified military operations to address rising insecurity in the North-Central region.
Oluyede disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the 2025 budget appraisal and defending the Armed Forces’ 2026 budget proposal before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence.
He said the move formed part of a broader strategy to consolidate gains recorded in the fight against insurgency and banditry across the country.
Providing an update on nationwide security operations, the CDS revealed that special forces had already been deployed to Benue and Plateau states, while a new Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Savannah Shield, would soon be inaugurated to focus on Kwara and parts of Niger.
“We are pulling resources from other theatres to strengthen this operation and ensure improved security in the area,” Oluyede said.
He noted that although notable progress had been recorded in the North-East, insecurity persisted in parts of the North-West and North-Central regions, necessitating fresh deployments and coordinated operations.
Oluyede stressed that military success on the battlefield must be backed by stronger internal security institutions, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
According to him, sustaining peace in recovered communities depends on the ability of these agencies to take over and maintain security presence.
“If these institutions are strengthened, they can effectively hold and secure territories where the Armed Forces have succeeded,” the CDS said.
He added that the Armed Forces alone could not tackle Nigeria’s security challenges due to manpower constraints and the demands of operating across multiple theatres.
“The soldiers hardly have rest because we don’t have the numbers. That is why strengthening the police and civil defence is critical,” he said.
The defence chief also disclosed that Nigeria was working with allied countries to improve intelligence gathering and operational efficiency.
He explained that such partnerships were being carefully managed to ensure they did not compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), said the country’s security challenges could not be addressed through kinetic measures alone.
He called for comprehensive institutional reforms, improved inter-agency collaboration, and stronger accountability mechanisms within the security sector.
Benson warned that defence budget allocations must translate into measurable improvements in safety and stability across the country, stressing that inadequate funding and poor implementation could undermine national security.
He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to sustained oversight, transparency, and legislative support aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture and ensuring lasting peace.