… COAS orders urgent reinforcement under Operation ENDURING PEACE; vows to restore calm in troubled communities
Jos, Nigeria — In a major escalation of military efforts to stem the rising wave of violence in Plateau State, the Nigerian Army has deployed over 850 additional troops to reinforce ongoing operations under Operation ENDURING PEACE, signaling a determined push to restore stability in one of the country’s most volatile flashpoints.
The fresh deployment, approved by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, NAM, comes amid growing concerns over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Plateau, where recurring attacks and communal unrest have continued to threaten lives, property and social cohesion.
According to a press statement issued by the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the immediate reinforcement is designed to bolster troops already operating in the state and strengthen efforts to de-escalate tensions, contain criminal elements and re-establish law and order across affected communities.
The statement described the troop surge as a strategic intervention aimed at preventing further breakdown of peace and reassuring residents of the military’s resolve to protect law-abiding citizens.
The newly deployed troops, numbering more than 850, were drawn from formations in Abuja and Kaduna, and have already been assigned to critical security duties, including the protection of lives and property, rapid response to emerging threats, and the restoration of public confidence in vulnerable areas across the state.
In a strong message delivered to the soldiers at the Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE in Jos, Lieutenant General Shaibu charged the troops to conduct themselves with the highest level of professionalism, discipline and firmness while confronting those behind the violence.
He urged the personnel to remain focused on their mission and avoid actions capable of undermining the trust of the civilian population, stressing that the military’s objective remains the protection of innocent citizens and the restoration of peace.
The Army Chief also moved to boost troop morale by assuring them that sufficient logistics, operational support and combat enablers had been put in place to ensure the success of the mission.
Military observers say the reinforcement reflects the seriousness with which the Nigerian Army is treating the Plateau crisis, especially as insecurity in the state has increasingly drawn national attention.
Plateau State has, in recent years, remained one of the most sensitive theatres of internal security operations in Nigeria, with repeated outbreaks of violence often resulting in deaths, displacement of communities and destruction of homes and livelihoods.
The latest deployment is therefore expected to significantly improve the operational capacity of troops on the ground, enhance intelligence-led response efforts and create a stronger security presence in flashpoint communities where fear and uncertainty have persisted.
For many residents, the arrival of the additional troops may represent more than just a tactical military move — it is also a test of the federal government’s ability to restore order and reassure a population weary of bloodshed.
As Operation ENDURING PEACE enters a new phase with expanded manpower and renewed command focus, all eyes will now be on the military’s ability to translate this show of force into lasting peace on the Plateau.
