ABUJA — The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for the immediate strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, warning that the armed forces alone lacked the manpower to sustain long-term security gains against insurgency and banditry across the country.
General Oluyede made this position clear during the 2025 budget appraisal and defence of the 2026 budget proposal at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, yesterday.
He underscored the urgent need for a coordinated security transition from military operations to internal security agencies.
According to him, while the armed forces have recorded significant successes in clearing criminal enclaves nationwide, the absence of adequately equipped police and civil defence personnel has continued to undermine efforts to hold and stabilise liberated communities.
“The Armed Forces can clear areas, but we do not have the numbers to remain everywhere indefinitely.
‘’If the police and civil defence are properly strengthened, they can hold and secure these areas and prevent criminal elements from re-emerging,’’ the CDS said.
He stressed that both the police and NSCDC possessed greater personnel strength and wider community presence than the military, positioning them as critical institutions for post-conflict stabilisation and internal security enforcement.
Presenting an overview of the country’s security outlook, Oluyede disclosed that special forces deployments were being finalised for Kwara State and parts of Niger State, following a recent spike in insecurity.
He announced that a new Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Savannah Shield, would soon be inaugurated to cover the affected areas.
“We are pulling resources from other theatres to strengthen this operation and improve security in Kwara and parts of Niger,” he said.
The CDS also revealed that additional special forces had already been deployed to Benue and Plateau states as part of renewed efforts to confront violent groups in the Middle Belt, stressing that military operations were now increasingly targeting insurgents’ hideouts directly.
“As we speak, the situation has improved significantly in the North-East. However, we still face serious challenges in the North-West and parts of the North-Central, including Benue, Plateau and Kwara. We are evolving modalities to address these threats within the resources available to us,” Oluyede said.
He further disclosed that Nigeria was deepening intelligence cooperation with allied countries to close existing gaps, while maintaining safeguards to protect national sovereignty.
“Our partners have been quite helpful, particularly in intelligence. But we are careful to ensure these collaborations align with the directives of Mr President and do not compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty,” he added.
