By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has announced the establishment of the Nigerian Army Special Forces School within the Special Forces Command domain in Doma, Nasarawa State.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the foundation laying ceremony was being performed on Friday.

Anele said the special forces school being currently ran in Buni Yadi in Yobe would be repurposed for the establishment of an Acclimatisation Centre for troops before being launched into the theatre of operations.

According to her, the COAS has earlier paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, where he said the facility would enhance the Nigerian army’s efficiency in tackling security challenges and contribute to making Nigeria safer.

Oluyede commended the government and people of Nasarawa for their cooperation with the army, especially the Special Forces Command and Operation Whirl Stroke, which he said had helped sustain peace in the state.

“Security is everybody’s business. The Nigerian Army belongs to Nigerians and will continue to protect them. But we are not spirits; we need the right support from our people,” he said.

Responding, Gov. Sule congratulated Oluyede on his appointment and lauded the army’s role in keeping Nasarawa one of the most peaceful states despite its proximity to flashpoint areas.

He pledged continued collaboration with security agencies, noting that peace had enabled the state to advance key projects in agriculture and solid minerals, including a lithium processing plant and large-scale rice production.

Sule said the state’s security architecture thrived on synergy between agencies and the active participation of communities in intelligence sharing. (NAN)