CDS, COAS Visit Maiduguri After Bombings, Order Intensified Offensive
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday visited Maiduguri, Borno State, for an operational assessment, barely 24 hours after recent suicide bomb incidents in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
The visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation HADIN KAI, was aimed at reviewing ongoing operations and strengthening efforts against insurgency in the region.
Addressing officers and troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, Oluyede commended the personnel for their resilience, sacrifice and sustained pressure on terrorist elements across the theatre.
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He charged them to remain committed and resolute in the discharge of their duties.
“In line with the need to consolidate gains and prevent a recurrence of recent incidents, commanders must intensify offensive operations, strengthen intelligence architecture and adopt proactive strategies to dominate the battlespace,” he said.
The CDS emphasised the need to maintain operational momentum, assuring troops of continued strategic support from the Defence Headquarters towards achieving a decisive defeat of terrorism.
Speaking during the visit, the COAS, Shaibu, also lauded the troops for their dedication and consistency in prosecuting the war against insurgents.
He urged field commanders to sustain and intensify ongoing operations, stressing the importance of adopting a “never again” posture to deny terrorists the opportunity to carry out attacks, especially during critical periods such as Ramadan.
Shaibu further assured the Theatre Command of additional support and critical enablers to boost operational effectiveness, enhance force protection and reinforce ongoing offensives.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander presented an operational brief, outlining activities within the Joint Operations Area, including ongoing engagements, challenges and recent successes recorded by troops.
He noted that despite isolated setbacks, troops had continued to dominate the battlespace through sustained offensive actions carried out with commitment and professionalism.
The commander disclosed that over 200 terrorists had been neutralised in recent operations, while several others sustained severe injuries, significantly weakening their combat capability.
He added that the operations had prevented many of the insurgents from returning to the battlefield.
Reaffirming the commitment of troops, the Theatre Commander said personnel of Operation HADIN KAI remained resolute and undeterred in their efforts to deny terrorists freedom of action and restore lasting peace to the North-East.
