From Umar Danladi Ado,Sokoto
The Special Adviser on Security to Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, retired Colonel Ahmed Usman, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to designate the newly established 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State, as a Special Forces Division, describing the move as vital to addressing worsening insecurity across the North-Central region and the country.
Usman made the appeal on Monday while commending President Tinubu for approving the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel.
He described the expansion as a bold and strategic step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture but stressed that increasing the number of divisions alone would not be enough to confront the country’s evolving security challenges.
According to him, the new 5 Division, expected to cover Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, should be specially structured and equipped to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of organised crime.
Usman noted that the division has a unique military heritage, explaining that it evolved from the former 401 Special Forces Brigade, a formation renowned within the Nigerian Army for training elite Special Forces personnel.
He argued that formally designating the new division as a Special Forces formation would build on that legacy and significantly enhance the Army’s operational capacity.
“The security environment in Nigeria has changed significantly. We are no longer dealing with conventional threats alone.
“Terrorism, banditry, communal violence, kidnapping and transnational criminal activities require highly trained and specialised forces capable of rapid deployment, intelligence-driven operations and precision strikes,” he said.
The retired army officer observed that the North-Central region has become a major security flashpoint due to persistent farmer-herder clashes, communal conflicts and attacks by armed criminal groups, making a Special Forces Division in Makurdi both timely and strategically important.
He said such a formation would improve rapid-response operations, strengthen counter-terrorism and counter-banditry efforts, enhance intelligence gathering and provide operational support to neighbouring military formations during large-scale security operations.
Usman added that Makurdi’s strategic location would enable the division to project military operations across the North-Central, South-East and South-South regions.
He also urged military authorities to ensure that a significant number of the newly approved recruits are trained as Special Forces operators, intelligence specialists, drone operators and combat engineers to meet emerging security threats.
The security adviser further called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to provide adequate funding for the new divisions, stressing the need to equip them with modern surveillance technology, drones, night-vision equipment, advanced communication systems, light armoured vehicles and medical evacuation platforms.
He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for driving the Army’s expansion initiative and appealed to the governments of Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states to support the establishment of the proposed division by providing land, logistics and other critical infrastructure.
Usman also urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence to enhance ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability across the country.