By Paul Aondoakaa 

The Nigerian Army has established three new artillery formations in Otukpo, Benue State, according to Otukpo Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Prince Maxwell Ogiri.

Ogiri made the disclosure after receiving an Army Headquarters Field Visit and Implementation Committee led by Major General R.T. Utsaha in Otukpo on Thursday.

The visit was described as the committee's second visit to the local government within two months as part of efforts connected with the operationalisation of the Nigerian Army's expanded command structure.

According to the council chairman, Major General Utsaha disclosed that the following formations and units had been established in Otukpo:

(1) Headquarters 35 Artillery Brigade

(2) 35 Artillery Brigade Garrison

(3) 353 Artillery Regiment (Air Defence)

Ogiri said the new formations are expected to strengthen military presence and contribute to security and stability in Otukpo and surrounding communities.

The development comes against the backdrop of a broader restructuring of the Nigerian Army approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2026.

The Federal Government announced that the Army's structure would expand from eight to 12 divisions, with new divisional headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. The restructuring is intended to improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making and enhance the military's response to emerging security threats.

Under the new structure, 5 Division Headquarters is based in Makurdi and has responsibility for Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states. The first phase of the restructuring, covering the establishment of the 5th, 9th and 10th Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.

The Nigerian Army subsequently announced the appointment of General Officers Commanding for the newly established divisions, describing the move as part of a wider reorganisation designed to expand its operational footprint and improve command and control. The Army said the new divisions would commence operations after attaining Initial Operational Capability, with Full Operational Capability to be achieved in phases.

For Otukpo, the reported establishment of the three artillery formations could represent a significant increase in the military's operational footprint in the area.
Artillery and air-defence capabilities can support wider military operations, although the specific operational responsibilities, personnel strength, locations and deployment timelines of the newly announced Otukpo formations were not provided in the statement made available to Benue Info-pedia.

The council chairman said the formations would further consolidate peace and stability across Otukpo and its environs.

However, the immediate security impact of the development remains to be seen. The establishment of military formations does not by itself establish how many personnel or assets will be deployed, when full operations will begin, or how the new units will interact with existing security formations in Benue.

The development will therefore be important to monitor as the Nigerian Army continues implementing its new national command structure.