The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ending the wave of violence and insecurity plaguing Benue, Plateau, and other parts of the country.
Speaking at the second quarter 2025 media chat organized by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs at the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja, the COAS, represented by Major General Obinna Onubogu, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan, declared that the military is fully mobilized and strategically positioned to bring the ongoing attacks to a halt.
“We are out, fully deployed, and tackling the menace head-on,” General Onubogu said. “In Benue particularly, you will see in the coming weeks very elaborate security arrangements to ensure that all that is going on there completely stops.”
General Oluyede emphasized that the Nigerian Army remains focused on restoring peace and justice, and is working tirelessly to bring those responsible for the recent killings to justice.
He further noted that the presidential directive regarding the security situation in Benue was “very clear,” and assured that the Army was taking proactive measures to carry it out to the letter.
Army Seeks Local Cooperation
The Army chief stressed the importance of community collaboration, urging residents and local stakeholders to share credible intelligence that can support ongoing operations.
“Nigeria is a vast country, and contrary to perception, the Army is not as numerically large as many think. We need locals to work with us—our response is only as good as the information we get,” he explained.
General Oluyede expressed concern over situations where communities have withheld crucial information, thereby slowing down the military’s reaction time.
“That must change if we are to win this fight together,” he said.
Appeal to Media for Responsible Reporting
The COAS also appealed to journalists and media platforms to maintain balanced and responsible reporting, avoiding sensationalism that could compromise operational integrity or inflame tensions.
“We are satisfied with the support we’ve received from the media so far and we hope to deepen that synergy to ensure national security is not undermined by sensational reporting,” he concluded.
