Nigeria’s top military leadership has ordered a renewed and intensified offensive against террорист elements in the North East, following recent suicide bomb incidents in Maiduguri.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Maiduguri on Wednesday for an operational assessment visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK).
The visit came less than 24 hours after suicide bomb attacks rocked parts of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, raising fresh security concerns in the region.
Addressing officers and troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, General Oluyede commended the personnel for their resilience, sacrifice, and sustained pressure on terrorist groups operating within the theatre. He, however, charged them to remain resolute and committed to their duties.
The CDS directed field commanders to scale up offensive operations, strengthen intelligence gathering, and adopt more innovative and proactive strategies to dominate the battlespace and prevent further attacks.
He stressed the need to sustain operational momentum, assuring troops of continued strategic support from Defence Headquarters in the ongoing fight to decisively defeat terrorism.
Also speaking, the COAS, Lieutenant General Shaibu, praised the troops for their dedication and persistence, urging commanders to intensify ongoing operations and maintain a firm “never again” stance against terrorist activities.
He emphasised the importance of denying insurgents any operational space, particularly during sensitive periods such as Ramadan and beyond, while assuring the Theatre Command of additional logistical and operational support to enhance effectiveness and troop safety.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander briefed the visiting military chiefs on ongoing operations, challenges, and recent gains recorded within the Joint Operations Area.
According to the briefing, troops have maintained dominance in the theatre through sustained offensives despite isolated setbacks. Over 200 террорист elements were reportedly neutralised in recent operations, with several others severely injured, significantly weakening their combat capabilities.
The Theatre Commander reaffirmed the commitment of Operation HADIN KAI troops to sustaining aggressive operations aimed at denying террорист groups freedom of movement and restoring lasting peace and economic stability in the North East.
The visit underscores the military’s resolve to tighten its grip on insurgency and reinforce security across the region amid renewed threats.
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