The military has announced plans to formally involve retired personnel in efforts to curb rising levels of violent conflict across the country through mediation, conflict resolution, and community based peacebuilding.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Olufemi Oluyede said this during the opening of a mediation and conflict resolution skills training for veterans in Abuja.

The training was organised by the Retired Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces (REMENAF) in collaboration with the Mediation Training Institute and the Defence Headquarters. The training is aimed at equipping retired military personnel with modern skills in mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution.

Oluyede said the initiative reflects a strategic shift towards strengthening nonkinetic approaches to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, in which violent conflicts are increasingly driven by local disputes and community tensions.

He stressed that military operations alone cannot guarantee lasting peace, noting that early intervention, dialogue and structured mediation remain critical to preventing escalation of violence.