By Abu Adamu
The Defence Headquarters has launched a new offensive against terrorism and kidnapping in parts of North Central Nigeria, with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, declaring that troops will pursue criminal elements to the finish line under the newly operationalised Joint Task Force North Central, codenamed Operation Savannah Shield.
The operation was formally activated on Thursday at the 22 Brigade, Sobi Military Cantonment in Ilorin, Kwara State. According to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Operation Savannah Shield is an intelligence-driven joint mission mandated to dismantle terrorist networks, kidnapping syndicates and allied criminal groups threatening Kwara State and adjoining areas of Niger State.
General Oluyede described the deployment as a deliberate and coordinated offensive, not a routine military presence. He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria are prepared to dominate the operational environment, consolidate previous security gains and secure critical agricultural belts across the theatre of operations.
He warned that forested enclaves and ungoverned spaces previously exploited by terrorists would no longer serve as safe havens. Troops, he said, will carry out sustained clearance and stabilisation operations across identified vulnerable corridors within the Joint Operational Area.
The Chief of Defence Staff also emphasised enhanced inter-agency collaboration, noting that the operation would integrate the efforts of multiple security agencies under a unified command structure. He disclosed that the Theatre Commander, Major General Yakubu Yahaya, will coordinate and oversee operations within the designated area.
General Oluyede called on traditional rulers, youth leaders and community stakeholders to provide credible and timely intelligence, stressing that national security remains a shared responsibility between the military and civilian populations.
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who attended the launch, described the operation as strategic and timely, citing recent escalations in terrorist activities across Kwara North, parts of Kwara South and neighbouring communities in Niger State. While acknowledging improvements recorded in parts of Kwara South through ongoing security efforts, he said intensified intervention was necessary in Kwara North to neutralise emerging threats.
The governor expressed confidence that the deployment would restore public confidence, reinforce peace and stimulate socio-economic recovery. He noted that insecurity had disrupted farming activities in key agricultural zones and said the renewed security push would enable farmers to return to full-scale production, strengthening food security in the region.
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, highlighted sustained collaboration among the Armed Forces and other security agencies, stressing that unified command and operational synergy remain critical to mission success.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, other service chiefs, heads of security agencies, senior military officers, traditional rulers and key stakeholders, underscoring what officials described as a unified national resolve to eliminate terrorist threats in the North Central region.