The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s determination to sustain its military offensive against terrorists and insurgents until they are completely neutralized and denied any form of sanctuary across the country.
General Shaibu made this declaration during his maiden operational visit to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, Borno State, where he charged frontline troops to maintain unrelenting pressure on the remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters still operating in parts of the North-East.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant-Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS commended the courage and resilience of the troops in the ongoing counterterrorism campaign, urging them to intensify their operations and sustain the tempo until total peace is achieved in the region.
“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, adding that the military will leave no stone unturned in dismantling terrorist networks and cutting off their sources of support.
He emphasized that his visit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to consolidate the gains recorded in the fight against insurgency and to further strengthen national security architecture across all regions.
As part of his engagements in Maiduguri, the Army Chief paid a courtesy visit to the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, where he sought continued prayers, intelligence sharing, and cooperation from traditional institutions and local communities.
General Shaibu assured the revered monarch that the Nigerian Army remains fully committed to restoring 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—particularly during recent flooding incidents, which he described as gestures that deeply touched the lives of the people.
The monarch lauded the Army’s success in reclaiming and stabilizing all local government areas in the state, noting that no part of Borno remains under the control of terrorist groups. He further pledged continued moral support and credible intelligence sharing to ensure the complete eradication of insurgency in the region.
With the renewed directive from the Army Chief, optimism remains high among troops and citizens alike that the end of the over-a-decade-long insurgency may finally be within reach.