The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has assured Nigerians that the military will bring to justice those responsible for the recent spate of killings in Benue, Plateau, and other troubled parts of the country.
Oluyede gave the assurance on Saturday in Akure during the Nigerian Army Headquarters’ Second Quarter 2025 Media Chat, organised by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs. The event was themed ‘Military–Media Collaboration: Panacea for Enhanced National Security and Development’.
Represented by Maj. Gen. Obinna Onubogu, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, the COAS said the military is fully committed to restoring peace, particularly in the North-Central region.
“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.”
He urged community leaders and residents to support the military by providing timely and credible intelligence, noting that the army’s response is often delayed by inadequate local cooperation.
“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.”
Oluyede also appealed to journalists to verify their reports before publication, especially in an era where misinformation and disinformation dominate social media.
“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 said.
