Military to Deploy 800 Special Forces to High-Risk Zones

By Toffa Momoh, Abuja

In a bold step to tackle Nigeria’s growing security threats, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has announced the planned deployment of over 800 elite Special Forces to high-risk areas across the country.

Speaking at the 2025 Defence Training Conference in Abuja, themed “Performance Oriented Training and Trends in the Contemporary Operating Environment,” General Musa revealed that the troops currently concluding an intensive training programme will be deployed as a unified combat unit in the coming week.

“We’ve found that piecemeal deployment weakens operational efficiency. This new unit is trained to function as a single, cohesive force, capable of confronting today’s complex threats,” the CDS stated.

The Special Forces, according to Musa, were equipped through a comprehensive training model focused on adaptability, technology, and mission-readiness to address a spectrum of security challenges including terrorism, insurgency, cyber warfare, and hybrid conflicts.

He stressed the critical need for collaboration among the various arms of the armed forces and security agencies. “No single agency can defeat the security challenges we face. We must train, plan, and fight together,” he said.

Describing the mindset of insurgents as dangerously indifferent to life, Musa warned: “We face an enemy with nothing to lose. That’s why our forces must be trained not just to fight but to understand the nature of such threats and adapt swiftly.”

Also speaking at the conference, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, urged the military to align its training programmes with Nigeria’s evolving national security objectives. He highlighted the increasing prevalence of asymmetric and hybrid threats which demand more than conventional responses.

“Training must anticipate tomorrow’s challenges. Real-world simulations and inter-agency synergy are essential to building a force that’s ready for the future,” the Minister noted.

He referenced global joint training initiatives like African Lion, Obangame Express, and ECOWAS Standby Force as effective models for cross-service cooperation.

Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, Chief of Defence Training, explained that the conference aimed to strengthen synergy among military branches, improve professionalism, and embrace modern warfare trends. He emphasized the need for hybrid threat training, simulation exercises, and globally adaptable personnel.

The 2025 Defence Training Conference marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s military transformation agenda, signalling a readiness to respond proactively to the nation’s growing internal and regional security demands.