The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Friday, announced plans to establish a Special Forces School in Nasarawa State.
He said the school would be located within the premises of the Special Forces Command in the state and serve as a hub for specialised training to address emerging security challenges.
Oluyede disclosed this during an official visit to Lafia, where he met with Governor Abdullahi Sule and members of the state’s executive and security councils.
“The purpose of my visit is to lay the foundation for the establishment of a Special Forces School within the premises of the Special Forces Command here in Nasarawa.
“This school will serve as a vital training hub for specialised operations, enhancing our capacity to address emerging security challenges. It will also add strategic value to the state and the nation at large”, Oluyede said.
The Army chief commended the Nasarawa State Government for its support to the military, noting that cooperation from the people, government, and traditional institutions had helped sustain peace in the state.
He said the Nigerian Army belonged to all Nigerians, being drawn from every state, and urged continued collaboration with security agencies to safeguard communities and strengthen peace.
“I often remind Nigerians that the Nigerian Army belongs to the people — we are drawn from every state and community across our country, and we serve with the single purpose of protecting our citizens. But security is not the responsibility of the armed forces alone. It is a collective duty that requires partnership, trust, and active support from the public, ” the Army chief said.
Responding, Sule welcomed the plan to site the Special Forces School in the state, describing it as a project that would improve security and contribute to socio-economic development.
He praised the role of the Special Forces Command and Operation Whirl Stroke in maintaining stability in Nasarawa despite security challenges in neighbouring states.
“Peace is the foundation upon which development is built,” Sule said, highlighting ongoing agricultural and mining projects in the state, including large-scale rice cultivation and the establishment of a major lithium processing plant.
The governor commended the synergy among security agencies in Nasarawa, which he said had been achieved through intelligence sharing and teamwork without rivalry, and pledged continued support to the Nigerian Army.
