The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has strengthened Nigeria’s counter-terrorism and internal security capabilities with the graduation of a full-fledged Special Forces battalion at the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Doma, Nasarawa State, on Friday, 9 October 2026.
A statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele Acting Director Army Public Relations said the new battalion will enhance the Nigerian Army’s capacity to conduct specialised operations, penetrate difficult terrain and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks.
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The COAS noted that the Army’s expansion from 8 to 12 divisions requires commensurate specialised capabilities to sustain operational readiness and extend security coverage across the country. He emphasised that the new battalion will strengthen field formations’ capacity to confront evolving threats, including the use of drones, improvised explosive devices and other emerging tactics by adversaries.
The graduands completed six months of intensive training to enhance combat proficiency, resilience and adaptability. The School’s facilities include the Nigerian Army’s most difficult and complex obstacle course to date, comprising 20 obstacles, and its first-ever maze designed to help soldiers overcome fear of darkness and confined spaces while strengthening resilience and spatial orientation.
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Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the Special Forces personnel to uphold discipline, precision, sound judgment and respect for human rights, stressing that tactical success must not undermine public confidence. He emphasised intelligence-led operations, technological awareness and joint cooperation with sister Services and other security agencies as essential to achieving sustainable security outcomes.
Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, said the course was tailored to contemporary operational demands and lessons from ongoing operations, while the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Brigadier General Umar Abubakar, highlighted the rigorous physical and tactical training undertaken by the graduands. The COAS commended the instructors and training partners for their contributions to developing a highly trained, adaptable and mission-ready force.
