National
Nigeria’s Army Chief Presses Troops to Stay Alert as Northeast Insurgency Persists
By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, called on frontline troops in the country’s northeast to maintain heightened vigilance and an aggressive operational posture as the military intensifies efforts against insurgent groups entrenched in the region.
Gen. Shaibu delivered the message on an operational assessment visit to the headquarters of Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), the military formation leading counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants.
The visit, was aimed at evaluating security conditions, reviewing battlefield performance, and reinforcing coordination among security agencies confronting persistent threats across Borno State and surrounding areas.
Addressing troops in Maiduguri, Gen. Shaibu praised their resilience and “gallant efforts” in confronting extremist fighters, urging them to avoid complacency despite recent gains. “Maximum situational awareness must be maintained to prevent emerging threats,” he said, adding that sustaining an aggressive operational tempo remained critical to denying insurgents freedom of movement.
In meetings with senior commanders, the Army Chief underscored the need for close supervision, improved intelligence gathering, and enhanced coordination within the theatre to consolidate recent successes.
Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of OPHK, briefed Gen. Shaibu on ongoing operations, outlining recent achievements as well as strategic and logistical challenges confronting units across the vast theatre of operations.
During the visit, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum paid a courtesy call on the Army Chief, congratulating him on his new appointment and describing it as well deserved. Governor Zulum noted that Gen. Shaibu had held several key command roles in the region and played a significant part in reducing insurgent activities over the years.
Expressing confidence in the Army Chief’s leadership, Governor Zulum said he believed the military would “consolidate ongoing efforts to decimate the remnants of insurgents and restore lasting peace to the North East.” He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to continued collaboration with the military and other security agencies, while urging troops not to be discouraged by sporadic attacks in remote communities.
Gen. Shaibu, in response, thanked the governor for what he described as “sustained cooperation” between the state and the military. He pledged that the Nigerian Army would intensify efforts to restore stability and normalcy across the region.
The Army Chief was accompanied on the assessment tour by senior officers from Army Headquarters.
