By Reportcircle News
As Nigerians across the country marked Christmas with family reunions and quiet celebration, the nation’s highest-ranking military leaders chose a different setting for the season’s rituals the frontlines of the North West.
On Thursday, December 26, 2025, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, hosted a special Christmas luncheon for troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA at Giginya Cantonment in Sokoto State.
The visit doubled as an operational engagement with the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North West), underscoring leadership’s resolve to stay connected to the realities of the battlefield.
The atmosphere at the cantonment blended festivity with resolve. For many of the soldiers, Christmas came not with family gatherings, but with duty guarding communities and holding ground against criminal and terrorist elements.
The presence of the nation’s top military commanders, officers say, turned the luncheon into a powerful morale booster.
Addressing the troops, General Oluyede delivered a message heavy with symbolism and reassurance. He praised the soldiers for their courage, discipline and steadfastness, describing them as the unbroken wall standing between law-abiding citizens and insecurity.
“While many Nigerians celebrate this season with their loved ones, you remain steadfast at your duty posts,” the CDS said. “You are the wall that never breaks and the hope that can never be shattered.”
He commended the operational gains recorded under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, noting that sustained military pressure has helped restore confidence across the North West and adjoining states.
To consolidate these gains, Oluyede urged continued collaboration with sister security agencies, state and federal authorities, and deeper engagement with host communities.
Welfare featured prominently in the CDS’s message.
He assured the troops that improving living and working conditions, healthcare delivery and family support remain central to military leadership priorities.
At the same time, he warned that festive periods often present opportunities for criminal elements, urging heightened vigilance, strict adherence to rules of engagement and respect for human rights.
The Defence Chief also acknowledged the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, describing presidential support as critical to sustaining nationwide operations.
He reaffirmed that the Armed Forces remain resolute in confronting terrorism and all forms of criminality.
For the Chief of Army Staff, the Christmas luncheon carried both emotional and institutional significance.
Lieutenant General Shaibu described the event as a long-standing military tradition designed to recognise the resilience and sacrifices of troops deployed far from home.
“It gives me deep fulfilment to celebrate Christmas with our gallant troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA,” he said, noting that similar luncheons were taking place simultaneously across other operational theatres.
The COAS urged the soldiers to use the season for reflection and remembrance, particularly of fallen comrades whose sacrifices continue to shape Nigeria’s security landscape.
He assured personnel that the Nigerian Army remains committed to supporting the families of fallen heroes and preserving their legacy.
Reiterating his command philosophy, Shaibu emphasised the ongoing transformation of the Army into a more professional, adaptable and combat-ready force, with welfare, rewards for excellence and operational readiness at its core.
He urged the troops to celebrate responsibly, remain security-conscious and uphold the highest standards of conduct.
As the luncheon concluded, both service chiefs delivered a unified message: the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to stand guard over the nation’s peace, unity and democratic stability.
For the soldiers in Sokoto, Christmas 2025 was not marked by quiet holidays but by shared meals, renewed resolve and the unmistakable signal that, even at the frontlines, they are not forgotten.
