Army expansion: Retired colonel seeks special forces 5 Div status

Retired Colonel Ahmed Usman, Security Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to elevate the newly approved Nigerian Army 5 Division Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State, to the status of a Special Forces Division. Usman commended the President's approval for expanding the army to 12 divisions and recruiting 28,000 personnel, calling it a crucial step for national security.

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The security environment in Nigeria has changed significantly. We are no longer dealing with conventional threats alone.

However, Usman stressed that increased troop numbers alone are insufficient to combat Nigeria's complex security landscape. He highlighted the shift from conventional threats to terrorism, banditry, communal violence, and kidnapping, which necessitate highly trained and specialized forces capable of rapid deployment and precision strikes. He believes the new 5 Division, intended to cover Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi states, should be specifically equipped to counter these evolving threats.

Usman pointed to the former 401 Special Forces Brigade, which is being upgraded to divisional status, as a strong foundation for this role. He argued that formally designating the new formation as a Special Forces Division would significantly boost the army's ability to respond to modern security challenges. The North-Central region, he noted, has become a major conflict zone due to persistent farmer-herder clashes and other forms of violence, making a specialized military presence in Makurdi strategically vital.

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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.

A Special Forces division would enhance rapid response capabilities, bolster counter-terrorism and counter-banditry efforts, and improve intelligence-driven operations. Its strategic location in Makurdi would also allow for projecting military power into the South-East and South-South regions when needed. Usman further urged military authorities to ensure a substantial number of the new recruits are trained as Special Forces operators, intelligence personnel, drone pilots, and combat engineers to meet the demands of contemporary warfare.

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Building on that legacy by formally designating the new formation as a Special Forces Division will significantly enhance the Army’s capacity to respond to evolving security threats across the country.