Special Forces Will Be Deployed In Kwara, Niger – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, on Tuesday disclosed that arrangements had been concluded to deploy special forces to Kwara state and parts of Niger state to address the recent surge in insecurity in the states.

This is just as he called for the urgent strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to assist the armed forces in the war against insecurity.

Oluyede stated these during the 2025 budget appraisal and defence of the 2026 budget proposal at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said the Police and Civil Defence, with larger personnel strength and wider community reach than the Armed Forces, must be adequately equipped to take over and secure areas already cleared of criminal elements by the military.

“If these institutions are strengthened, they can effectively hold and secure territories where the Armed Forces have succeeded, ensuring that such areas remain safe,” Oluyede said.

The CDS also assured Nigerians that renewed efforts were underway to tackle lingering security threats in the Middle Belt, particularly in Benue and Plateau states, by taking the fight directly to insurgents’ hideouts.

“We are doing everything within our capacity to ensure that Nigeria becomes safer. As we speak, the situation in the North-East has improved significantly.

“In the North-West, we still face serious challenges, and the same applies to parts of the North-Central, including Benue, Plateau and even Kwara. But we are evolving modalities to address these challenges within the resources available to us,” Oluyede said.

He disclosed that new special forces had been deployed to Benue and Plateau, while a new Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Savannah Shield, would soon be inaugurated to specifically cover Kwara State and parts of Niger State.

“We are pulling resources from other theatres to strengthen this operation and ensure improved security in the area,” Oluyede said.

The CDS further disclosed that Nigeria was collaborating with some allied countries to bridge gaps in intelligence gathering, stressing that such partnerships were being streamlined to safeguard the country’s sovereignty.

“Our partners have been quite helpful, particularly in intelligence. But we are careful to streamline these collaborations in line with the guidelines of Mr President, to ensure that Nigeria’s sovereignty is not compromised,” he said.

Oluyede emphasised that the Armed Forces lacked the manpower to be deployed everywhere at once, noting that continuous movement of troops from one theatre to another had placed enormous strain on personnel.

“The soldiers hardly have rest because we don’t have the numbers. Recruiting more personnel comes with other challenges—housing, logistics and welfare. That is why strengthening the police and civil defence is critical. They have more men and better reach to fill the gaps after military operations,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), said the persistence of security threats underscores the need for deeper institutional reforms, improved coordination and smarter deployment of scarce resources.

Benson said Nigerians’ expectations are high, and rightly so, as they demand results that translate into safer communities, restored livelihoods, and renewed confidence in the authority of the state.

“In response to these expectations, the National Assembly, within the limits of available natural resources, has continued to accord priority to the defence and security sector in successive budgets.

“However, increased allocations must be matched with measurable outcomes, value for money and strict adherence to principles of transparency and accountability.

“The era of input-focused budgeting without commensurate impact is no longer acceptable. What Nigerians expect – and what this Committee insists upon – are clearly defined outputs and outcomes that reflect operational effectiveness and institutional efficiency,” he stated.