COAS: Army Will Continue to Review Its Operational Techniques, Training Manuals
•CDS misrepresented on Yelwata Killings, Says DHQ
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Linus Aleke in Abuja
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, yesterday, said the Nigerian Army will continue to review its operational techniques, training manuals, and curriculum to meet the demands of contemporary security threats.
Relatedly, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) insisted that Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa’s comments on the tragic killings in Yelwata community in Benue State were misrepresented in the media.
Oluyede spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the opening of the Nigerian Army Education Corps Combined First and Second Quarter Conference and Second Edition of the Research Development and Innovation Exhibition 2025, held at the Nigerian Institute of Science and Technology, Sobi Barracks, llorin.
The seminar was themed, “Enhancing NAEC Professional Competencies for Effective Service Delivery in Support of the Nigerian Army.”
Represented by Deputy Chief of Training, Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Ayoola Aboaba, Oluyede said, “The event presents an opportunity for the Education Corps to evaluate the ongoing transformational initiatives instituted by the current leadership and, where necessary, refine them to ensure better service delivery to Nigerian Army personnel and their families.
“These modest but deliberate reform initiatives are designed to complement the Nigerian Army’s operational and administrative activities towards delivering on its mandate of creating a conducive environment for a safe, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
“The decision for this combined event resonates with the ongoing transformation that seeks to reposition the Nigerian Army to meet its constitutional responsibilities through innovation and professionalism.”
Describing the event as timely and apt, Oluyede stated, “The corps seeks to explore more viable ways of optimising its inherent competencies in furtherance of the Nigerian Army’s operational and administrative objectives.
“This firmly aligns with two key pillars of the COAS’ Command Philosophy, which are sound Administration and Professionalism.
“The provision of sound and qualitative education through our Command Children Schools and tertiary institutions, facilitated by the Education Corps, is critical to our welfare initiatives for personnel and their families.”
DHQ: CDS Misrepresented on Yelwata Killings
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa’s comments on killings at Yelwata, Benue State, were misrepresented in the media.
The military said the media report attributed to National Coalition Against Mass Killings and Impunity (NCAMKI) on the subject matter was both misleading and taken out of context.
It stated that the group’s claim that the CDS’s remarks were “reckless, insensitive or provocative” was not only untrue but also undermined the efforts of the armed forces in managing highly volatile and emotionally charged security situations across the country.
The military stated that it was regrettable that advocacy groups would twist the narrative and attempt to politicise an issue as sensitive as national security.
A statement by Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a news article published in a national daily, which misrepresents recent remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, regarding the tragic Yelwata incident.
“We categorically state that the interpretation and portrayal of the CDS’s comments by the National Coalition Against Mass Killings and Impunity (NCAMKI), as reported, are both misleading and taken out of context.
“At no point did the CDS intend to blame victims or justify the heinous acts perpetrated by criminal elements in Benue State or elsewhere. The CDS’s statement was aimed at drawing attention to the complex realities and challenges faced in conflict zones, particularly the tactics used by insurgent and criminal groups to infiltrate communities and exploit vulnerabilities.
“His comments were made in good faith, within the broader context of encouraging communities to be vigilant, cooperative with security agencies and united against those who seek to destroy peace and order.”
The acting spokesperson of the military stressed that it was on record that Musa had consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to protecting all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. He stated that the CDS had worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of citizens, promote civil-military cooperation, and uphold the values of professionalism, compassion, and integrity in military operations.
