Nigerians have been reassured by Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), that the Nigerian Army will hold those accountable for the recent wave of murders in Benue, Plateau, and other unstable regions of the nation accountable.
Oluyede provided the assurance on Saturday in Akure at the Department of Civil-Military Affairs’ Second Quarter 2025 Media Chat at Nigerian Army Headquarters. Enhanced National Security and Development through Military-Media Collaboration was the theme of the event.
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According to the COAS, the military is totally dedicated to bringing peace back, especially in the North-Central area. This was said by Maj. Gen. Obinna Onubogu, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan.
“The President has given clear directives. We are fully deployed and confronting these security threats head-on,” Oluyede said. “In Benue especially, expect more elaborate and strategic security arrangements in the coming weeks aimed at ending the violence.”
Noting that the Nigerian army’s response is frequently delayed by insufficient local collaboration, he asked community leaders and citizens to assist the military by giving prompt and reliable intelligence.
“Nigeria is vast, and the army isn’t as large in numbers as people may assume. We depend heavily on the support of the people. Unfortunately, in some cases, the intelligence we get is either late or inaccurate, which hampers our operations. That must change if we’re to win this fight together.”
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“The media must play its part in safeguarding national security. We urge reporters to reach out to military authorities to clarify facts before putting out stories. Sensationalism only worsens public anxiety and undermines national efforts,” he added.
