COAS Raises the Bar for Plateau Security, Orders Troops to Sustain Pressure on Criminal Elements
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division and Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) to sustain pressure on criminal elements while intensifying efforts to consolidate peace and security in Plateau State and neighbouring areas.
Shaibu gave the directive on Monday, September 14, 2026, during an operational visit to the headquarters of 3 Division and OPEP, where he reviewed the prevailing security situation, ongoing operations and measures being implemented to protect vulnerable communities and consolidate recent security and peace-building gains.
The COAS charged the troops to remain vigilant, disciplined and professionally focused, stressing the need for sustained operational pressure against criminal groups that could undermine the relative stability being achieved across the area.
He also called for stronger collaboration between the military and other security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders involved in efforts to promote lasting peace.
A major highlight of the visit was the COAS’s inspection of the ongoing construction of the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Control Station.
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The facility, upon completion and activation, is expected to significantly strengthen the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities by providing enhanced real-time awareness of the operational environment and timely intelligence to commanders for more effective decision-making.
The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander, OPEP, Major General Maxwell Dangana, briefed the COAS on developments within the Division’s Area of Responsibility, including ongoing operations, security arrangements and consultations with relevant stakeholders aimed at preventing violence, protecting communities and sustaining the peace process.
Shaibu commended the troops for their courage, professionalism and commitment to duty, urging them to build on the progress already recorded.
He stressed that while military force remained necessary to confront criminal threats, lasting peace could not be achieved through kinetic operations alone.
According to him, military action must be complemented by dialogue, reconciliation and other peace-building initiatives to prevent criminal elements from exploiting communal tensions and reversing the gains made.
The COAS therefore directed troops to respond decisively to security threats while maintaining professional standards and respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.
He assured personnel of the Army’s continued institutional support, reaffirming the commitment of the Nigerian Army to protecting lives and property and creating the conditions necessary for communities to live peacefully and pursue their legitimate livelihoods without fear.
Shaibu also appealed to residents to continue providing troops and other security agencies with timely and credible information, emphasizing that sustainable peace on the Plateau requires collective responsibility.
He identified security agencies, government institutions, traditional rulers, community leaders and citizens as critical partners in the effort to consolidate peace and prevent a resurgence of violence in the state.
