By Joy Odor | Maiduguri
In a bold show of command resolve and renewed combat strategy, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday, stormed Maiduguri, the operational heart of Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign, with a clear order to troops, “annihilate insurgency and restore lasting peace to the North East.”
On his maiden operational tour of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East Operation HADIN KAI, General Shaibu charged frontline commanders and soldiers to sustain unrelenting pressure on all remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP elements until the region is completely secured.
“The Nigerian Army under my command will leave no stone unturned,” Shaibu vowed. “We will pursue this fight with renewed energy, clear focus, and absolute dedication to end this menace once and for all.”
The visit, undertaken on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reflects the administration’s renewed emphasis on decisive, intelligence-led operations and sustained ground dominance across the North East.
Speaking at the Maimalari Military Cantonment, General Shaibu assessed ongoing operations and troop readiness, reaffirming his commitment to troop welfare, logistics support, and combat efficiency.
“Our soldiers’ morale, welfare, and combat readiness remain my top priorities,” he stated. “We will maintain fairness, professionalism, and strategic deployment of competent personnel to achieve total victory.”
The Army Chief commissioned new operational infrastructure, including the Heroes Transit Accommodation and new Corporal and Below quarters, as part of efforts to enhance troop living standards and reinforce the “Soldier-First” philosophy.
He also inspected combat platforms, visited wounded-in-action personnel at the 7 Division Military Hospital, and met with forward troops in Bama and adjoining sectors.
During a courtesy visit to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, General Shaibu sought continued collaboration with traditional leaders in intelligence sharing and civic support for military operations.
“We need the cooperation of all citizens to win this war completely,” Shaibu appealed. “Your prayers, your intelligence, your trust, these are weapons too.”
The Shehu of Borno commended the Nigerian Army’s sacrifices and humanitarian interventions, noting that “no local government area in Borno State is under terrorist control today.”
“The Army’s commitment and sacrifices have restored peace to our communities,” the monarch said, pledging continuous moral and intelligence support.
The visit marks a new phase in the Nigerian Army’s counterinsurgency posture, signaling General Shaibu’s readiness to recalibrate field strategies, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and consolidate the hard-won gains of Operation HADIN KAI.
