The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured Nigerians that the military is resolutely committed to bringing to justice those responsible for the recent surge in violence across Benue, Plateau, and other troubled regions.
Speaking on Saturday during the Nigerian Army Headquarters’ Second Quarter 2025 Media Chat held in Akure, the COAS reiterated the army’s determination to restore peace, particularly in the volatile North-Central states.
The event, organised by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs, was themed ‘Military–Media Collaboration: Panacea for Enhanced National Security and Development’.
Represented by Major General Obinna Onubogu, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Oluyede emphasised that the military is fully deployed and acting under presidential directives to tackle the security challenges head-on.
“In Benue especially, expect more elaborate and strategic security arrangements in the coming weeks aimed at ending the violence,” he stated.
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Oluyede appealed to community leaders and residents to provide timely and reliable intelligence, highlighting that delayed or inaccurate information often hampers military operations.
“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,” he said.
He also called on the media to exercise caution by verifying facts before publication, especially amid the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms.
“Sensationalism only worsens public anxiety and undermines national efforts,” Oluyede warned.
The COAS’s message underscores the critical need for unity between the military, local communities, and the press in combating insecurity and fostering lasting peace in Nigeria.
