By Joy Odor – Reportcircle News
In a powerful show of command presence and frontline solidarity, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, took Christmas to the battlefield, hosting a special luncheon for troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in Maiduguri and using the moment to spotlight the resilience, sacrifice and quiet heroism sustaining security in the North East.
The event, held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the 212 Battalion Parade Ground inside the Maimalari Military Cantonment, unfolded as more than a festive gathering.
It was a carefully choreographed morale operation part reassurance, part recognition aimed at troops who stayed in combat posture while the rest of the country marked the Yuletide.
Represented by the Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Godwin Mutkut, the COAS delivered a goodwill message that struck a deliberate balance between celebration and command.
Christmas, he said, symbolises love, sacrifice, renewal and hope—values that mirror the daily reality of soldiers deployed in Operation HADIN KAI.
“While millions of Nigerians celebrate with their families, you remain on duty, standing as an unbreakable wall of hope for the nation,” the Army Chief said, praising the courage and professionalism of troops whose operations have helped stabilise Borno State and the wider North East.
The message was clear: the frontlines have not been forgotten.
Shaibu urged troops to sustain vigilance and discipline, warning that criminal elements often exploit festive seasons to stage attacks or spread disinformation.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration with sister security agencies and trust-building with local communities, describing civilian cooperation as a strategic asset in winning enduring peace.
Beyond words, the Army Chief reaffirmed welfare as a command priority.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to improve accommodation, healthcare delivery and family support systems, while expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for sustained backing of military operations nationwide.
Special prayers were offered for wounded soldiers, with wishes for their speedy recovery.
Operational gains on the ground gave weight to the celebration.
In his welcome address, Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, said recent months had seen measurable progress: terrorists neutralised, arms recovered, logistics networks disrupted, forward operating bases established and internally displaced persons resettled.
These outcomes, he said, contributed to a relatively peaceful Christmas across much of the Joint Operations Area.
Abubakar credited the COAS’ leadership interventions as a major morale driver, while acknowledging consistent support from the Borno State Government and local communities.
The political leadership of the state was also represented.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Bukar Tijani, paid tribute to fallen soldiers and commended troops for sustaining operational momentum under difficult conditions.
He pledged continued state support for wounded personnel and families of the fallen, describing the Armed Forces’ patriotism as “second to none.”
The luncheon itself was rich in symbolism. Senior officers and dignitaries served Christmas meals directly to frontline troops and wounded soldiers, a gesture that reinforced leadership closeness and flattened the usual distance between command and rank.
Cultural dance performances, humour-filled interludes and morale-boosting activities softened the edges of a year shaped by combat.
In his vote of thanks, Deputy Theatre Commander, Air Vice Marshal Essen Efanga, acknowledged the role of federal and state authorities, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, sister services and the media in supporting operations in the theatre.
As the celebration drew to a close, a group photograph with wounded soldiers captured the tone of the day: unity under pressure, celebration without complacency.
Troops were urged to celebrate responsibly but remain alert.
In Maiduguri, Christmas was not marked by silence of guns alone, but by a deliberate message from the top: the Army stands with its soldiers, especially where the nation’s burden is heaviest.
