The Nigerian military is preparing to launch a significant offensive against criminal elements in the North Central region, with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, announcing the creation of a new specialized unit. Code-named “Operation Savannah Shield,” this Joint Special Task Force is designed specifically to track down and eliminate terrorists operating within Kwara State and across the border into neighboring Niger State.
General Oluyede shared these details during a 2026 budget defense session with the House of Representatives Committee on Defence in Abuja. The military will be redeploying resources and elite special forces from other active zones to ensure this new operation has the manpower and firepower necessary to secure the region.
This move follows similar strategic deployments in Benue and Plateau states, where special forces are already on the ground. The General noted that while the military continues to make significant strides in weakening bandit and insurgent groups nationwide, “Operation Savannah Shield” represents a focused effort to prevent these groups from establishing permanent bases in the Kwara-Niger corridor.
However, the military chief also pointed out that long-term peace cannot rely on soldiers alone. He made a strong case for the urgent strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. General Oluyede explained that while the army is effective at clearing out criminal hideouts, it is the police and civil defense with their larger numbers and deep community presence—who must be equipped to hold those territories and keep them safe.
Ultimately, the goal is for the military to neutralize the immediate threat, allowing civilian security agencies to step in and maintain order. For the residents of Kwara and Niger, the imminent inauguration of this task force offers a much-needed glimmer of hope that the rising tide of insecurity in their communities will finally be rolled back.
