In a sweeping restructuring of the military to strengthen national security and improve operational effectiveness across the country, President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of four new divisions of the Nigerian Army and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel.

The four additional divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, respectively, raising the total number of army divisions nationwide from eight to 12.

In the meantime, the Headquarters, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps (NAOC), has declared Private Mohammed Amutu wanted over his alleged involvement in the illegal sale and supply of military uniforms to terrorists and other criminal elements.

In another development, the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has clarified that a Nigerien national, Aboubakar Zein-Nur, who was intercepted at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Council Area of Borno State and taken into custody for profiling and investigation, has no terror link.

The OPHK Acting Media Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, clarified in a statement that, contrary to reports regarding Houdairi in some sections of the media on July 14, 2026, comprehensive intelligence assessments and other investigative processes did not establish that the individual has any affiliation with any known terrorist group.

“Investigations further confirmed that he is a resident of Shattu Anguba Village in Bosso, Republic of Niger, who engages in camel rearing beyond the River Komadougou.”

The Presidency described the restructuring approval as a strategic move to bolster command and control, enhance troop deployment, and improve the Armed Forces’ capacity to tackle the country’s complex and evolving security challenges.

The latest decision builds on the Tinubu administration’s sustained investment in the military, including the acquisition of critical combat platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, enhanced operational logistics, and continued force modernisation.

According to the new deployment plan, the army’s divisional headquarters will be located as follows: 1 Division, Kaduna; 2 Division, Ibadan; 3 Division, Jos; 5 Division, Makurdi; 6 Division, Port Harcourt; 7 Division, Maiduguri; 8 Division, Sokoto; 9 Division, Ilorin; 10 Division, Jalingo; 81 Division, Lagos; 82 Division, Enugu; and 83 Division, Benin City.

According to the presidency, the additional divisions would significantly strengthen command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, improve border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, reinforce counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and enable quicker military responses to emerging threats across the federation.

Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9 and 10 Divisions, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026.

The second phase, which includes the establishment of the 83 Division and further restructuring, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.

President Tinubu said the expansion reflects his administration’s determination to ensure that the Armed Forces remain adequately staffed, well-equipped and combat-ready to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect the lives and property of citizens.

He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, for their professionalism, resilience and unwavering commitment to defending the country’s territorial integrity.

He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to sustain investments in the armed forces through enhanced manpower, modern equipment, improved welfare and strengthened operational capabilities to meet present and future security challenges.

MEANWHILE, a statement yesterday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Maj. Oluwatope Aliko, disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated that the soldier, who was serving at the Nigerian Army Ordnance Kits Factory, absconded from his unit on June 3, 2026.

The army explained that Amutu has been declared wanted by the appropriate military authorities, while intensive efforts continue to locate and apprehend him to face a full investigation and appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with extant military laws.

The statement warned that “any personnel found to have aided terrorists, criminals or other non-state actors through the unauthorised sale, diversion or distribution of military uniforms, accoutrements or other controlled items, will be subjected to the full weight of military and civil laws.”

Consequently, she appealed to the public to assist with credible information that could lead to the arrest of the wanted soldier, adding that such information should be reported immediately to the nearest military formation or any security agency.

Further on the intercepted Nigerien, Goni added that troops acted in accordance with established operational procedures by taking him into custody for profiling and further investigation, in view of the prevailing security environment and the exploitation of border corridors by terrorist elements for movement and logistics.

According to Goni, Operation Hadin has consequently cleared the individual of any terrorist links, reiterating, however, that all persons intercepted under suspicious circumstances during military operations are subjected to due process and appropriate security screening to ensure that innocent civilians are distinguished from terrorist elements.

Zein-Nur, also known as Houdairi, was intercepted by troops of 68 Battalion during an exploitation operation following the attack at Cross Kauwa.