The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday embarked on his maiden operational visit to the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), on Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State, with a charge to troops to annihilate insurgency and restore lasting peace to the region.
The visit, which aligns with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, underscores the Nigerian Army’s renewed commitment to consolidating gains in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations in the North-East.
Addressing troops at the Maimalari Military Cantonment, the COAS urged them to sustain pressure on the remnants of insurgents until total victory is achieved. He stressed the importance of decisively dealing with terrorists to ensure normalcy and create an enabling environment for socio-economic recovery in the region.
“The Nigerian Army under my command will leave no stone unturned. We will pursue this fight with renewed energy, clear focus, and absolute dedication to end this menace once and for all,” he said.
Shaibu, who assessed the operational readiness of formations and units in the theatre, reaffirmed his commitment to providing the necessary logistics, welfare, and equipment to enhance troop morale and efficiency. He also pledged to strengthen the “Soldier-First” concept of his predecessor, emphasizing fairness, professionalism, and strategic deployment of competent personnel to critical assignments.
During the visit, the COAS paid a courtesy call on the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji (Dr) Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, where he sought continued prayers, intelligence support, and cooperation from traditional leaders and citizens to complement ongoing military operations.
Responding, the Shehu of Borno commended the Nigerian Army for its gallantry and humanitarian interventions, particularly during recent flooding incidents. He noted that no local government area in the state is currently under the control of terrorists and pledged continued support through intelligence sharing to ensure total defeat of insurgency.
Highlights of the visit included an operational briefing at the Theatre Command Headquarters, commissioning of the Heroes Transit Accommodation at Maimalari Cantonment, groundbreaking for the construction of 30-family Corporal and Below Quarters, inspection of combat platforms, and visits to wounded soldiers at the 7 Division Military Hospital.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu also visited frontline troops in Bama and adjoining sectors, marking what officials described as a new phase in the Nigerian Army’s counterinsurgency posture — one focused on recalibrating strategy and strengthening combat effectiveness to restore peace and stability in the North-East.
