Army Chief Raises Alarm as Lake Chad, Sahel Crisis Worsens Nigeria's Security, Unveils New Military Strategy

Army Chief Raises Alarm as Lake Chad, Sahel Crisis Worsens Nigeria's Security, Unveils New Military Strategy

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has warned that escalating instability across the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel region, and the Gulf of Guinea is fueling Nigeria's growing security crisis, making the country's fight against terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes increasingly difficult.

Speaking at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2026 in Port Harcourt, Oluyede described Nigeria's security landscape as one of the most complex in recent years, citing insurgency, terrorism, banditry, cybercrime, transnational organized crime, and resource-related conflicts as major threats to national stability.

The Army Chief explained that the unchecked proliferation of illegal small arms, porous borders, and the exploitation of ethnic and religious divisions have further complicated efforts to restore peace and security.

> "Beyond Nigeria's borders, instability within the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel Region and along the Gulf of Guinea continues to influence and exacerbate the domestic threat environment," Oluyede stated.

He noted that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, cyber operations, drones, and other emerging technologies have transformed modern warfare, making it necessary for the Nigerian Army to continuously adapt its operational strategies.

According to Oluyede, the Army has intensified collaboration with other security agencies, strengthened intelligence gathering, expanded community engagement, and invested in advanced military technology to combat evolving threats.

He added that security operations now combine both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches aimed at dismantling criminal networks, restoring peace, and protecting vulnerable communities.

The Army Chief emphasized that safeguarding civilians remains a top priority, highlighting the establishment of Human Rights Desks, expanded civil-military relations programmes, and stricter enforcement of rules of engagement to ensure professionalism and accountability during military operations.

Oluyede also disclosed that the Nigerian Army is expanding specialized training in counter-insurgency, urban warfare, cyber defence, and intelligence-led operations while supporting reconstruction, humanitarian assistance, and peace-building initiatives in conflict-affected communities.

Reaffirming the Army's commitment to innovation and professionalism, he said the military will continue working closely with regional and international partners to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture and effectively tackle emerging threats.

Nigeria security challenges

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