Army deploys additional battalion to secure Benue–Taraba corridor
… as COAS holds talks with Tor Tiv The Nigerian Army has boosted troop presence along vulnerable corridors, including the deployment of an additional battalion on the Benue–Taraba axis. The
… as COAS holds talks with Tor Tiv
The Nigerian Army has boosted troop presence along vulnerable corridors, including the deployment of an additional battalion on the Benue–Taraba axis.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, announced this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, as part of a strategic operational tour of Benue State and the North Central theatre of operations.
In a statement by Army's spokesperson, Colonel Apollonia Anele, the COAS said that logistics support, surveillance assets and rapid response capabilities have also been significantly enhanced to strengthen operational dominance and protect farming communities along the Benue-Taraba corridor.
The Army chief stressed that intelligence-driven operations, early warning mechanisms and sustained community engagement are indispensable to preventing reprisals and curbing the cycle of violence.
He assured citizens that as the country approaches the general elections, the Army has taken proactive measures to deter criminal actors and guarantee a secure environment for the exercise of civic rights.
The COAS noted that his visits to the top traditional leaders in the state were part of strategic efforts to enhance security in Benue State, emphasizing that the visits underscored a renewed and coordinated resolve by the Nigerian Army to decisively flush out criminal elements destabilizing Benue and its neighbouring states.
He emphasised that beyond kinetic operations, the support of traditional institutions remains pivotal to achieving sustainable peace.
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He urged the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse and other traditional rulers across the state to lend their moral authority and grassroots influence toward mobilising communities against criminality.
According to COAS, traditional leaders play a critical role in shaping public perception, promoting peaceful messaging, and discouraging any form of collaboration with criminal elements.
He said: “Security is a shared responsibility. While the Armed Forces will continue to apply decisive force against enemies of the state, adding that enduring stability can only be achieved when communities reject violence, refuse to shield criminals and actively support lawful authority.”
The Tor Tiv commended the Army for its resilience and sacrifices in the face of persistent security challenges.
While acknowledging improvements in civil-military relations, the monarch expressed concern over recurring attacks in border communities and called for more preventive security strategies.
He highlighted the importance of integrating grassroots intelligence into operational planning, noting that traditional rulers often receive early indicators of threats.
The Tor Tiv advocated structured collaboration between security agencies and traditional institutions to counter misinformation, build public trust and strengthen community confidence in ongoing operations.
