From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The Special Adviser to Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to designate the newly created 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State, as a Special Forces Division, saying the move is critical to tackling worsening insecurity in the North-Central region and across the country.
The retired army officer made the call 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 major step toward strengthening the country’s security architecture but argued that increasing the number of divisions alone would not be sufficient to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to him, the 5 Division, which is expected to cover Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states, should be specially configured to combat terrorism, banditry, communal violence, kidnapping, and other forms of organized crime prevalent in the region.
Usman noted that the division has a unique military heritage, explaining that the former 401 Special Forces Brigade, which is being elevated to divisional status, has long been recognized within the Nigerian Army for training and developing Special Forces personnel.
He said building on that legacy by formally designating the new formation as a Special Forces Division would strengthen the Army’s capacity to respond to emerging security threats.
“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 specialized forces capable of rapid deployment, intelligence-driven operations, and precision strikes,” he said.
Usman said the North-Central region has become a major conflict zone due to persistent farmer-herder clashes, communal killings, and the activities of armed criminal groups, making the establishment of a Special Forces Division in Makurdi both strategic and necessary.
He said the new formation would provide rapid-response capability, strengthen counter-terrorism and counter-banditry operations, improve intelligence gathering, and support neighbouring military formations during major operations.
He also noted that Makurdi’s strategic location would enable the division to project military operations across the North-Central, South-East, and South-South regions.
The security adviser urged military authorities to ensure that some of the 28,000 newly approved recruits are trained as Special Forces operators, intelligence personnel, drone operators, and combat engineers to meet emerging security challenges.
He also called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to provide adequate funding for the new divisions, stressing that they should be equipped with modern surveillance technology, drones, night-vision devices, advanced communication systems, light armored vehicles, and medical evacuation platforms.
Usman commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for championing the Army’s expansion 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 necessary facilities.
He also urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence to enhance efforts to restore peace and stability across the country.
