Army Reinforces as 236 Tank Battalion Troops Join Mangu Intensified Security Operations

The Nigerian Army has reinforced security operations in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State with the deployment of the first batch of personnel from the newly restructured 236 Tank Battalion to Sector 8 of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP).

The deployment took place at about 4:40 p.m. on September 25, 2026, with the first batch comprising two groups of 89 personnel each, bringing the number of troops deployed in the batch to 178.

The contingent was led by the Commanding Officer of 236 Tank Battalion, Lt. Col. H.O. Obire, and was received at the Sector 8 headquarters by the sector commander and other operational personnel.

Following their arrival, the newly deployed troops commenced familiarisation with the sector’s Area of Responsibility and the operational responsibilities assigned to the formation, according to security sources.

The reinforcement comes against the backdrop of heightened security concerns in Mangu and surrounding communities. The area has witnessed renewed military activity in recent weeks, including patrols, raids and clearance operations targeting suspected criminal elements.

Sector 8 troops have recently conducted operations in parts of Mangu, including patrols along vulnerable community routes and operations aimed at preventing attacks and other forms of criminal activity. In one September operation, troops also engaged suspected militia elements during a clearance operation in Kogul Village, with one soldier reportedly sustaining a gunshot injury.

The Army’s increased presence in Mangu follows an earlier decision to move the tactical headquarters of Operation ENDURING PEACE from Jos to Mangu, a measure military authorities said was intended to improve the response to security threats in the area and surrounding communities.

The additional personnel are expected to strengthen troop presence within the sector’s operational area and support existing efforts to deter attacks, protect communities and respond more rapidly to emerging security threats.

The deployed personnel are also expected to operate alongside other security and response agencies working in the area, with the broader objective of protecting civilians, securing vulnerable locations and maintaining peace across communities under Sector 8’s jurisdiction.

The latest deployment underscores the military’s continuing effort to reinforce its presence in Mangu as security agencies confront attacks, communal tensions, cattle-related criminality and other threats affecting communities in the area.