Nigerian Army Deploys 14,000 Troops for Counterterrorism

The Nigerian Army has announced the deployment of 14,000 newly trained troops to bolster its counterterrorism operations. Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu disclosed this during a media interaction on the sidelines of the 2026 Nigerian Army Day celebration in Port Harcourt, River State.

The deployment is part of a broader initiative that includes the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel, approved by President Bola Tinubu, following an assessment of the Army's manpower needs. Shaibu noted that 6,000 recruits have completed training at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, with 5,000 graduating from the training facility in Osogbo, and an additional 3,000 trainees at the Amasiri Edda training depot expected to complete their program soon.

The Army has revamped its training curriculum to ensure recruits are equipped to confront contemporary security threats, with a focus on marksmanship and counterinsurgency skills. Shaibu emphasized the Army's commitment to improving personnel welfare and ongoing operations to rescue abducted individuals in Oyo State.