Military
Army moves to boost intelligence gathering via indigenous language
Army moves to boost intelligence gathering via indigenous language
In a bid to boost operational efficiency through intelligence gathering, the Nigerian Army has continued to train its personnel on indigenous language proficiency.
The reports gathered that a total of 124 personnel comprising 39 officers and 85 soldiers, graduated from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) 9th Indigenous Languages Proficiency Course 9/2022 on Friday in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, represented by the Chief of Administration, Maj.-Gen. Usman Muhammed said the nature of the current security environment was characterised by a plethora of challenges requiring military attention.
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Yahaya said that all army operations were intelligence-driven, adding that their ability to surmount the security challenge would largely be dependent on intelligence gathering.
He said effective intelligence gathering could be facilitated by an understanding of the local languages of the personnel involved in the operations.
The COAS expressed optimism that the course would be of immense benefit to the participants and the Nigerian army considering the changing nature of the nation’s domestic security environment.
According to him, there is no gainsaying that the nation’s security environment is undermined by the current threats, which include among others things, terrorism banditry and other challenges in virtually all parts of the country.
He said the army would continue to redouble its efforts with a view to stemming the menace of insecurity and guaranteeing peaceful co-existence in all parts of the nation.
According to him, the current domestic security reality has necessitated the deployment of the Nigerian army troops to the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Suffice to say that all these operations are intelligence-driven.
“Therefore, our ability to adequately and professionally respond to these domestic security challenges will depend essentially on credible and reliable intelligence, which is dependent on the ability to communicate with the local population.
“The populace is being encouraged with the slogan, ‘see something, say something which depends on the ability of personnel to communicate with people within the operational area.
“Effective communication in part will essentially require some level of proficiency in the local dialect of the operating environment.
“This informs why you have learnt the three major Nigerian languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
“Proficiency in these local languages will, therefore, hasten your speedy integration and ability to penetrate local operating environments,” he said.
Yahaya urged the graduating officers to continue to use every available opportunity to improve their current proficiency level to be able to engage in sustained conversations within their places of employment.
The Director-General of NARC retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab said the course was designed to bridge the communication barriers between army personnel and the local populace in the conduct of internal security operations.
Wahab said that officers and soldiers were currently being deployed to different parts of the country, adding that there was the belief that there was a problem with intelligence gathering.
He said that security was a two-way thing which involved “securing you through you” and the need to trust those who are providing the security for them.
According to him, if you cannot talk to people, if you cannot relate with them in the language they understand, they won’t trust you.
“The belief is that speaking somebody’s language is going to inspire trust immediately, because of the belief that this is my person.
“And that’s the reason why the army challenged the centre to run this programme,” he said.
Wahab said the feedback from the previous courses had been encouraging, adding that plans were on the ground to open up the course to the general public.
The Training Officer, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Nuhu, who represented the General Officer Commanding (GOC), said the language course would help the army to address security challenges.
He urged personnel who would pass through the resource centre to continue to practice their proficiency in the languages they had been trained in to enable them to be perfect.
The Course Senior, Col. Muhammed Ahmad thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the opportunity to learn and understand other languages to enhance their operational effectiveness.
Ahmad, who spoke on behalf of other participants pledged to justify the training by deploying the knowledge acquired in their various areas of responsibility.
Nigerian Army activates three new battalions in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army has operationalised three new Infantry Battalions in Zamfara State as part of efforts to strengthen security operations and enhance rapid response to emerging threats across the state.
The newly activated formations are the 12 Infantry Battalion, Bakura; 23 Infantry Battalion, Kaura Namoda; and 28 Infantry Battalion, Anka.
A statement by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 2, Joint Task Force, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Maj.-Gen. B.P. Koughna, said the development would expand the Army’s operational coverage and improve security within the battalions’ respective Areas of Responsibility.
The statement, issued by the Acting Brigade Commander, Col. Umaru, said the Army remained committed to sustained operations aimed at protecting law-abiding citizens and restoring lasting peace across Zamfara.
Col. Umaru called for stronger collaboration among the military, other security agencies, traditional institutions and communities, stressing that timely and credible intelligence remained critical to successful security operations.
He also charged the newly deployed troops to maintain discipline, professionalism and vigilance while operating within their constitutional mandate and established Rules of Engagement.
The Acting Brigade Commander urged the troops to remain responsive to the security needs of the communities within their areas of responsibility and to sustain close engagement with local stakeholders.
In separate remarks, the Emirs of Bakura, Anka and Kaura Namoda commended the Nigerian Army for establishing the additional battalions.
The traditional rulers described the move as an important step towards strengthening security and restoring normalcy in communities across the state.
They pledged the continued support of traditional institutions through community mobilisation, cooperation and information sharing with security agencies.
The activation of the three battalions is expected to further enhance the Army’s presence and operational reach in Zamfara State, particularly in areas requiring faster response to security threats.
Nigerian Army activates three new battalions in Zamfara
GOC 3 Division engages Bokkos stakeholders over farmer-herder conflicts
By: Zagazola Makama
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander, Operation Enduring Peace, Maj. Gen. W.M. Dangana, has engaged district heads and other stakeholders in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State as part of efforts to address recurring farmer-herder conflicts in the area.
Maj. Gen. Dangana arrived at the headquarters of Sector 5, Operation Enduring Peace, in Bokkos at about 1:00 p.m. on September 19, 2026, where he was received by the Sector Commander.
The GOC thereafter proceeded to the Palace of the Saf Bokkos, where he held an engagement meeting with district heads and other stakeholders from across the local government area.
The engagement formed part of ongoing non-kinetic efforts by the military and other stakeholders to address the underlying tensions between farming and herding communities and promote peaceful coexistence.
Discussions with traditional leaders and community stakeholders are expected to support the identification of local grievances, strengthen communication with security agencies and help prevent disputes from escalating into violence.
The engagement was conducted peacefully and without any incident.
GOC 3 Division engages Bokkos stakeholders over farmer-herder conflicts
Army committee inspects sites for new 237 Tank Battalion in Bauchi
By Zagazola Makama
A high-level military committee has inspected proposed locations for the establishment of the newly formed 237 Tank Battalion in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The inspection was conducted on Sept. 17, 2026, by a committee led by the Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu.
The delegation included the Bauchi State Commissioner for Lands, the Chief Security Adviser to the Bauchi State Government and the Chairman of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, among other officials.
On arrival at the headquarters of Sector 8, Sub-Sector 82, Operation ENDURING PEACE, in Tafawa Balewa, the delegation was received by the Sub-Sector Commander, Maj. F. Ogunleke.
Ogunleke subsequently led the committee on an inspection of selected temporary facilities being considered to accommodate the battalion.
Among the facilities inspected were the ATBU Annex and the Government Girls Secondary School, Tafawa Balewa.
The committee also assessed two locations being considered for the permanent establishment of the battalion one in Tafawa Balewa and another in Murno, Boto District of the local government area.
The inspection ended at about 1:30 p.m., after which the committee proceeded to Toro for further engagements as part of the ongoing process for establishing the battalion.
The development is part of efforts to identify suitable facilities and locations for the operational deployment and long-term accommodation of the newly established military formation.
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