Military Deploys Special Forces to Tackle Insecurity in North-Central Nigeria

Safiya Mohammed Bello

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, (DHQ) has announced the deployment of a Joint Special Task Force, code-named Operation Savannah Shield, to flush out terrorists operating in Kwara and parts of Niger State in North-Central Nigeria.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, disclosed this on Tuesday during the 2026 budget defence session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Defence. He revealed that special forces have also been deployed to Benue and Plateau states in the North-Central region.

While noting the progress made by the Armed Forces in degrading insurgent and bandit groups across the country, General Oluyede stressed the need to urgently strengthen the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) to consolidate the gains.

He emphasized that although the military has succeeded in clearing criminal elements from several locations, sustaining peace requires adequately equipping the police and civil defence, which have greater personnel strength and wider community presence.