The Defence Headquarters has announced plans to deploy over 800 special forces to troubled states such as Benue, Plateau, and Borno, in a bid to support existing troops in addressing ongoing security challenges.

Chief of Defence Staff  Gen. Christopher Musa made this known shortly before  Army spokesperson   Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, announced the death of 17 soldiers during a gun battle with bandits in Niger State.

Ten other soldiers were injured by the bandits during the incident in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area. The number of bandits neutralised by troops was, however, not given by Lt.-Col.  Anele.

At a DHQ training seminar in Abuja yesterday,   Gen.   Musa revealed that members of the special force are currently undergoing a comprehensive training on how to tackle the rising threats to the nation’s security.

He said: “Sometime next week, we will be graduating the first 800 special forces team trained to face the challenges we are undergoing. The training is very comprehensive.

“We have realised that deploying them in pieces also creates that weakness that we see. We will be deploying them together, a force that stays together, that will understand each other. Because from experience, a fighting force must be able to understand itself.”

The CDS explained that the conference on Performance-Oriented Training and Trends in Contemporary Operating Environment,”  was organised as a critical part of a shared commitment to building a professional and combat-ready force equipped to navigate the evolving operational landscape.

“Our mission also aims to create a unified training system that is adaptable, technology-driven, economical, and mission-driven.

“This entails expanding joint training programmes and doctrinal reviews as well as performance simulation and work-giving, among other innovations that will enhance professional operational ability.

“Furthermore, this training will enhance collaboration, cooperation, and ‘jointness’ among the services of other relevant security agencies.”

According to him, an effective response to the country’s complex security threats requires inter-service collaboration,  cooperation and rapid integration of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced surveillance technology and sophisticated electronic cyber warfare.

He emphasised the need for the military to understand the enemy it is dealing with in order to prepare for emerging challenges.

Defence Minister  Mohammed Badaru urged the military to ensure that troops’ training aligns with national security objectives.

He said that addressing the country’s security threats required the military to adopt forward-looking strategies based on rigorous training, inter-agency coordination, and real-time adaptation to emerging doctrines and technologies.

Badaru reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the military in overcoming the nation’s security threats.

He said: “As part of our strategic vision, we are working closely with the Services to review and enhance our defence training architecture, with a clear focus on: Aligning training programmes with strategic defence objectives; upgrading facilities and infrastructure in our training institutions, expanding partnership with regional and international military academies and think tanks; Promoting training exercise that reflect both local and global threats and encouraging innovation in training methodology, doctrine development and simulation tools.”

Also in Abuja,   Army Spokesperson Lt.-Col. Anele said bandits, numbering 300   on Tuesday morning, launched an attack on Bangi community, prompting a swift land and air component response by troops in Kwanar Dutse Forest.

She said: “The criminals had attempted a night-time transit towards Kwatankoro Forest, where they were reportedly planning coordinated attacks on surrounding communities or looking for a haven to evade the pressure from our operations in Zamfara State.

“However, their movement and actions were effectively disrupted by troops who engaged them in a fierce fire-fight that lasted over three hours.

“Sequel to the ground engagement by the Nigerian Army troops, the Nigerian Air Force conducted precision airstrikes on the terrorists’ withdrawal routes, delivering accurate heavy bombardments on identified terrorists’ locations.”

‘’Although the exact number of casualties could not be ascertained, multiple blood trails along their escape routes indicated significant enemy losses.

“Regrettably, 17 brave and gallant soldiers paid the supreme price during the encounter.   Ten others, who sustained varying degrees of injury, were evacuated to a military medical facility, where they are receiving treatment. They  are in stable condition.”

She urged the public to continue to support the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by providing timely information to security agencies “by any means possible.”

The Nation gathered that the bandits had first invaded Kwana Duse, where they engaged soldiers in a gun battle.

According to the Mariga LGA Chairman, Abbas Adam, when residents heard the gunshots, they alerted the military command in Kontagora, which sent a reinforcement team.

Adamu said bad roads made it difficult for the team to arrive at the communities on time, causing the bandits to continue their attack.

The Head of a vigilante group in the area, Mallam Abubakar Sani, also confirmed that some of the bandits were killed during the gun battle.

We are under siege, Niger Assembly laments

Speaker of the  state House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, described the killing of the soldiers as ‘’barbaric, wicked and inhuman.’’

He said: “This is a serious catastrophe that has befallen not only the military but the people of my constituency and the state in general.

‘’I received the news of the killing of these promising young officers who have kept my constituency safe for a long time now with a heavy heart. This is a wicked, barbaric and inhuman act.

“This singular attack is a big setback for the entire farming   Mariga Local Government. My entire Constituency is under siege.”

National Assembly wants Benue massacre probed

The National Assembly called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the Yelewata, Benue State massacre.

The call followed the adoption of motions by  Senator Titus Zam and Rep. Dickson Tarkighir during plenaries by the Senate and House of Representatives.

In the  Senate, where members declared the Benue State killings an act of terrorism,  a minute’s silence was observed for the deceased.

The members, who also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his response to the tragedy,  called on the Federal Government to deploy more military personnel in the troubled state, particularly in  Yelewata and other known flashpoints.

Besides, they urged the Federal Government to provide compensation to the families of the deceased and begin the reconstruction of properties destroyed during the attacks.

The Senators agreed to send a delegation to Yelewata as a show of solidarity and to conduct legislative oversight on the humanitarian and security response on the ground.

They also called for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s national security strategy, including the adoption of community-based policing models better suited to protecting vulnerable populations.

Before  Senate President Godswill Akpabio concluded the session, members also expressed outrage over the killing of 12 wedding-bound travellers from Kaduna State in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on June 21.

“What we are witnessing is state failure, and outside this chamber, there is a final judgment before God,” said Akpabio.

In the House of Representatives, the members charged security agencies to intensify efforts at restoring peace in Yelwata and other affected communities.

They called on the Federal Government to build a Forward Operation Base (FOB) for the Army in Yelwata, to forestall further attacks on the border community.

The House asked its Committee on Interior and Security to immediately visit Yelwata and other communities affected by the attacks.

It also asked the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the  National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)  to urgently provide adequate relief materials and medical assistance to the displaced persons.

Abuja to host Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff summit

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the hosting of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff summit in Abuja.

The three-day summit, aimed at proffering home-grown solutions to the continent’s security challenges, will begin on August 25.

Chairman of the planning committee Air Vice- Marshal Precious Amadi told reporters that  53   Defence chiefs including those of  Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, have indicated interest to attend the summit.

“In the light of current realities, it has become imperative to seek African solutions to African problems. And it is in recognition of this, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the Defence Headquarters to host the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit,” he said.