CDS Musa Unveils Deployment of 800 Special Forces to Battle Insecurity Nationwide

CDS Musa Unveils Deployment of 800 Special Forces to Battle Insecurity Nationwide

By Ayshatu S. Rabo

In a decisive move to tackle Nigeria’s growing security threats, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has announced that over 800 specially trained troops will be deployed to key operational areas across the country within a week.

Gen. Musa made the announcement on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the Defence Training Conference 2025, themed “Performance Oriented Training and Trends in the Contemporary Operating Environment.”

According to the CDS, the special forces have undergone intensive and comprehensive training to equip them with the skills required to confront the nation’s multi-dimensional security challenges.

“Sometime next week, we will be graduating the first 800 special forces team trained to face the challenges we are undergoing,” Musa revealed. “Deploying them together as a unified force that understands one another will enhance their operational effectiveness.”

Gen. Musa underscored that disjointed deployments had previously led to vulnerabilities in the field, stressing the importance of deploying cohesive units that can operate with seamless coordination.

The Defence Chief described the conference as a vital platform to reaffirm the Armed Forces’ commitment to professionalism, readiness, and innovation in addressing both traditional and emerging threats.

“Our goal is to establish a unified training architecture that is adaptive, technologically driven, economically viable, and mission-focused,” he said. “We are expanding joint training programmes, doctrinal reviews, performance simulations, and mission-specific innovations to sharpen our edge.”

Musa emphasized that modern threats can no longer be countered by a single agency or service, highlighting the importance of collaboration and joint efforts among the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

“Today’s threats ranging from terrorism and insurgency to cyber warfare and advanced weaponry are increasingly complex and asymmetric,” he stated. “There is also a rapid emergence of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and sophisticated surveillance and cyber warfare technologies.”

He further stressed the need for the military to evolve in its training methodology, preparing troops not just for conventional warfare but for adaptive responses in a rapidly changing environment.

“We are fighting enemies who have nothing to lose and will stop at nothing. Our troops must understand the kind of adversary they are up against,” the CDS said. “This requires a fundamental shift in how we train—focusing on adaptability, agility, and resilience.”

READ ALSO: Photos from the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Defence Training Conference

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Adm. Ibrahim Shettima, said the conference aims to enhance synergy, strengthen professionalism, and ensure training keeps pace with the evolving nature of conflict.

“We are focusing on hybrid threats, simulation-based training, and strengthening joint operations to build a generation of officers who are not just tactically skilled but globally agile and strategically resilient,” he said.

The Defence Training Conference brought together senior military officers, defence experts, and training specialists to brainstorm on how to reposition the Armed Forces to meet Nigeria’s growing security demands.

CDS Musa Unveils Deployment of 800 Special Forces to Battle Insecurity Nationwide