COAS Visits Maiduguri, Pledges Better Welfare for Troops
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has pledged improved welfare and stronger operational support for troops fighting insurgency in the North-East.
Shaibu made the commitment on Saturday when he arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on an operational visit aimed at boosting soldiers’ morale and reviewing ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
His visit comes days after a deadly terrorist attack on a military base in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, where several soldiers and civilians were reportedly killed.
The Army Chief was received at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Maiduguri by the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Ibikunle Ajose, alongside other senior military officers, including commanders of Sectors 1, 2 and 3.
During the visit, Shaibu was expected to meet commanders at various levels to assess the security situation, review operational strategies and strengthen efforts to eliminate Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters operating in the region.
Military sources said the engagement was also intended to encourage troops on the frontline and assess the challenges confronting them in the ongoing campaign against insurgency.
The COAS commended the soldiers for their courage, sacrifices and resilience, urging them to sustain the pressure on terrorist groups until lasting peace is restored to the region.
He also called on insurgents still operating in the bush to surrender, noting that government-backed non-kinetic initiatives offered repentant fighters an opportunity to reunite with their families and reintegrate into society.
The visit followed reported military successes in Kukawa Local Government Area, where troops were said to have killed dozens of terrorists during an attempted attack on their positions.
The latest visit underscores the military leadership’s efforts to strengthen frontline operations amid persistent security challenges in Borno and neighbouring states.
The Army Chief was also expected to receive operational briefings from field commanders and hold strategic engagements to determine the next phase of the military campaign.
The military has continued operations across the North-East as security forces seek to dismantle terrorist networks and restore stability to communities affected by years of insurgency.
