COAS Olufemi Oluyede Urges Nigerians to Unite in Fight Against Security Threats

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has called on Nigerians to embrace responsible citizenship and actively participate in addressing the nation’s security challenges. Speaking at the Nigerian Army Tertiary Students and Future Journalists Parley held at the University of Lagos, Oluyede emphasized the crucial role of public support and media collaboration in ensuring the success of military operations.

Represented at the event by Brigadier General Olawale Oyekola, Commander of the 9th Brigade, the Army Chief outlined the significant threats facing Nigeria, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, secessionist movements, farmers-herders conflicts, and communal violence. He stressed that military success depends not only on training and equipment but also on the trust and backing of citizens.

Lt. Gen. Oluyede highlighted Nigeria’s rich ethnic, cultural, religious, and resource diversity as a unifying force for nation-building rather than division. He revealed that the Nigerian Army has adopted a whole-of-society strategy to tackle security challenges and urged all citizens to engage positively in national security efforts.

Jibrin Ndace, Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, praised the military’s sacrifices and called for enhanced public understanding and cooperation between the armed forces and the media. Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, Executive Director of the African Centre for Media and Inter-Cultural Dialogue, underscored the need for mutual respect between the military and the media to foster national security while safeguarding human rights.