The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to sustaining offensive operations until insurgents are denied every form of support and sanctuary.
Gatekeepers News reports that Shaibu made the declaration during his maiden visit to the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief charged troops to intensify ongoing operations aimed at eliminating the remnants of insurgents and restoring lasting peace to the North-East.
“The Nigerian Army under my command will pursue this fight with renewed energy, clear focus, and absolute dedication to end this menace once and for all,” General Shaibu stated.
He directed troops to maintain relentless pressure on terrorist elements until total victory is achieved, assuring that the Army would “leave no stone unturned” in ending insurgency across the region.
The statement noted that the visit aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to consolidate gains made in the counterterrorism and counterinsurgency campaigns.
During the visit, the COAS also paid a courtesy call on the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, where he solicited continued prayers, intelligence sharing, and cooperation from traditional institutions and residents to strengthen military operations.
Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve and capability to restore enduring peace and stability across Borno State and the wider North-East corridor.
In his response, the Shehu of Borno commended the Nigerian Army for its gallantry, sacrifices, and humanitarian interventions—especially during recent flooding incidents—adding that the people would not forget the Army’s support in their time of need.
He praised the military’s efforts in restoring normalcy to the state, noting that no local government area in Borno is currently under the control of terrorists. The monarch also pledged continued cooperation through credible intelligence sharing and moral support to ensure the complete defeat of insurgency.
Highlights of the COAS’s visit included an operational briefing at the Theatre Command Headquarters, commissioning of the Heroes Transit Accommodation at Maimalari Cantonment, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Corporal and Below Quarters, inspection of combat platforms, and visits to wounded-in-action personnel at the 7 Division Military Hospital and frontline troops in Bama and adjoining sectors.
