🇳🇬 COAS storms Maiduguri on maiden operational tour, charges troops to annihilate insurgency in North East

 

In a bold display of renewed strategic resolve, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, NAM, on Thursday, embarked on his maiden operational visit to the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri, with a clear charge to troops: "end the insurgency, once and for all". 

  

Zig Diaries Defence

Date: Friday, 7 November 2025 

Time: 07:45 WAT 

Location: 📍 Maiduguri, Nigeria 

 

The visit, which aligns with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reaffirms the Nigerian Army’s reinvigorated drive to consolidate gains in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations across the region. 

 

According to a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief urged troops to maintain relentless pressure on the remnants of insurgents until total victory is achieved, stressing that decisive action is essential to restore normalcy and create an enabling environment for socio-economic recovery in the North East. 

 

General Shaibu, who inspected units and formations to gauge their readiness, reaffirmed his commitment to the Soldier-First concept, promising improved logistics, welfare, and fair deployment of capable personnel to mission-critical operations. 

 

“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 declared. 

 

He also paid a courtesy visit to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji (Dr) Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, CFR, seeking sustained community cooperation, intelligence support, and prayers to strengthen the Army’s operations. 

 

The Shehu commended the Army’s gallantry and humanitarian roles, noting that no Local Government Area in Borno remains under terrorist control. He pledged continuous collaboration with the military to secure lasting peace. 

 

Highlights of the COAS’s visit included operational briefings at Theatre Command Headquarters, commissioning of the Heroes Transit Accommodation at Maimalari Cantonment, groundbreaking for new barracks housing projects, inspection of combat platforms, and visits to wounded personnel and frontline troops in Bama. 

 

The visit marks a recalibration of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts, a strong signal of the Army’s resolve to end the insurgency and secure peace across the North East. 

🏷️ Tags: Nigerian Army, COAS Waidi Shaibu, Operation HADIN KAI, Counterinsurgency, Maiduguri, North East, Defence, Borno State 

#ZigDiariesDefence #NigerianArmy #COASWaidiShaibu #OperationHadinKai #NorthEast