Nigeria approves largest military expansion in years to tackle security threats

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved one of the country's largest military expansions in recent years as the government seeks to strengthen its response to escalating security challenges.

The expansion oversees the recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions, as authorities face continued attacks, as reported by Nigerian media outlets.

The announcement comes amid a series of violent incidents across the country by militant Islamist groups, armed gangs, separatist movements and criminal networks involved in mass kidnappings for ransom.

Last week, an armed gang killed at least 20 villagers in the north-western state of Zamfara, while 46 students were abducted from a school in the north-eastern state of Borno. The Nigerian army rescued the students within hours of the kidnapping.

Although security forces have reported recent gains against armed groups, violence remains widespread and the criminal networks have become increasingly sophisticated. The insecurity has also spread beyond northern Nigeria. In May, 44 pupils and teachers were abducted during coordinated attacks on schools in the south-western state of Oyo.

Announcing the military overhaul, the government said the additional army divisions, which raises their number from 8 to 12, would improve operational coordination, intelligence sharing and response times across the country.

Nigeria strengthens security architecture

Under the current military structure, existing divisions are responsible for vast operational areas that often span multiple states, stretching resources as security forces confront simultaneous threats from insurgents, bandits and communal violence.

Alongside the new divisions, the government will establish three additional army headquarters in north-eastern and central Nigeria—regions heavily affected by Islamist insurgencies, banditry and recurring clashes between farmers and herders.

Before approving the military expansion, Tinubu warned armed groups to "surrender or face the full force" of the Nigerian state.

In a speech delivered last month, the president also announced plans to recruit more than 50,000 new police officers and allocated a record 5.41 trillion naira (approximately $4 billion) to defence and security in the national budget.

Nigeria has also sought greater international cooperation in its counterterrorism efforts. In December 2025, US and Nigerian forces carried out a joint operation targeting militants from the Lakurawa group in north-western Nigeria, including coordinated strikes against jihadist positions on Christmas Day.

By Nazrin Sadigova