Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede has announced the establishment of a new Joint Special Task Force, named ‘Savanah Shield,’ aimed at combating terrorism in Kwara and certain areas of Niger. This announcement was made during the budget defense session on February 10 in Abuja.
Oluyede emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance security despite resource constraints, noting progress in the North-East while acknowledging persistent issues in the North-West and North-Central regions.
He mentioned that a new special force has been trained and deployed to Benue and Plateau, with plans to extend operations to Kwara and Niger under the leadership of a joint task commander.
“We are developing strategies to tackle these challenges within the limits of our resources. A new group of special forces has been trained and sent to Benue and Plateau; we are preparing to deploy another joint task force to cover Kwara and parts of Niger to improve the situation, which will be called Savanah Shield.
“A joint task commander has been appointed, and we are working to gather resources from various sources to ensure comprehensive coverage in the area,” he stated.
He urged for stronger collaboration with the police and civil defense, encouraging citizens to assist intelligence efforts and reject any form of criminal collaboration.
House Committee Chair, Benson Babajimi highlighted the importance of security for national development, commending the armed forces for their efforts against terrorism while calling for institutional reforms and better coordination.
“No nation can achieve sustainable progress without ensuring the safety of lives, property, and critical national assets,” Babajimi remarked.
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He stressed that increased budgets should lead to transparent and impactful outcomes, advocating for a comprehensive government approach to tackle issues such as poverty, youth unemployment, and community grievances.
“Challenges like poverty, youth unemployment, illiteracy, weak local governance, misinformation, community grievances, and ideological radicalization continue to contribute to insecurity across various regions of the country,” he noted.
He recommended that military initiatives be balanced with long-term peacebuilding efforts, focusing on personnel welfare, modern equipment, and operational sustainability.
Additionally, he urged the resolution of procurement inefficiencies and project delays to improve operational effectiveness.
