By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
At the Giginya Cantonment in Sokoto, the drums were loud, the colours vibrant and the mood unmistakably confident.
But beneath the pageantry of the West African Social Activities (WASA) 2025 celebration lay a harder story, one told in rescue figures, seized weapons and dismantled bandit networks across Nigeria’s North West.
The 8 Division of the Nigerian Army and Sector 2 Joint Task Force, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, used the annual WASA ceremony not merely to celebrate culture and camaraderie, but to take stock of what commanders described as a year of decisive operational gains against banditry and violent criminality.
Representing Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, the Special Adviser on Security, Colonel Ahmed Abdu (rtd), praised the Army’s expanding footprint in restoring stability across the region.
He described WASA as more than a social ritual, calling it a historic symbol of unity, discipline and shared identity within the Armed Forces.
The state government, he assured, remains committed to working with the military to consolidate peace and unlock economic recovery in communities long disrupted by violence.
He also commended the Nigerian Army’s leadership and paid tribute to the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for what he described as firm and strategic command direction.
When the operational scorecard was unveiled, the applause sharpened.
In his address, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, detailed what he termed a transformational year for counter-banditry operations.
Over the past 12 months, troops under his command rescued 1,023 kidnapped victims, recovered 189 AK-47 rifles and 4,338 rounds of ammunition, seized 305 motorcycles used by bandits for rapid strikes, and recovered 4,123 stolen livestock.
Several high-profile bandit leaders, he added, were neutralised during sustained clearance operations.
“These numbers represent lives restored, communities stabilised and confidence rebuilt,” Ajose said, stressing that farmers are returning to their fields and daily economic activity is gradually resuming in previously terrorised areas.
He was emphatic that the campaign against banditry and terrorism in the North West is being progressively won, attributing the momentum to the resilience of troops on the front lines and the operational guidance of the Chief of Army Staff.
Beyond the battlefield, the GOC highlighted deliberate investments in troop welfare, including upgrades to medical facilities and accommodation.
These, he said, have been critical in sustaining morale, discipline and combat effectiveness across extended deployments.
Ajose expressed gratitude to Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu for consistent support and pledged that the Division would build on the year’s gains in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy.
As speeches gave way to celebration, WASA unfolded in full colour.
Cultural troupes from different formations showcased Nigeria’s diversity, traditional cuisines lined the cantonment, and a spirited tug-of-war between Eagle Corps members and the Giginya Cantonment Magajias drew cheers from soldiers, families and guests alike.
Yet even amid festivity, the message was clear: the celebration marked not an end, but a pause, a moment to reflect before returning to the task of securing the region.
As the 2025 training year closed, the 8 Division reaffirmed its resolve to consolidate gains, deepen community trust and sustain pressure on criminal networks.
For communities across the North West, the Army’s message from Giginya was unmistakable: the fight continues, but the tide is turning.
