Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has assured Nigerians that the military will hunt down and bring to justice the perpetrators of recent killings in Benue, Plateau, and other troubled parts of the country.
Speaking on Saturday during the Nigerian Army’s second quarter 2025 media chat in Akure, the COAS, represented by Maj. Gen. Obinna Onubogu, General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Ibadan, reiterated the Army’s resolve to end the cycle of violence, especially in North-Central Nigeria.
“The president has given very clear directives, and we are fully deployed to tackle the menace. In Benue particularly, you will see very elaborate security arrangements in the coming weeks aimed at stopping the violence completely,” he stated.
The media chat, organised by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs, was themed “Military-Media Collaboration: Panacea for Enhanced National Security and Development.”
Lt. Gen. Oluyede emphasised the importance of cooperation from local communities, urging residents to provide timely and credible intelligence to aid military operations.
“Nigeria is a vast country, and our numbers are not as large as many believe. Without support from the population, particularly in terms of actionable information, our efforts are slowed,” he said.
He also called on the media to play a constructive role in national security by avoiding misinformation and verifying facts before publication.
“The social media space is awash with misinformation and outright falsehoods. We appeal to media professionals to reach out to us before publishing unverified stories,” he said, adding that the Army is pleased with the current media support and hopes to strengthen that collaboration further.
The COAS reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring peace across all affected regions, promising swift and coordinated action to dismantle criminal elements threatening national stability.
