…Shaibu confronts setbacks, vows decisive push against terror
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Friday undertook a high level battlefield assessment in Nigeria’s troubled North East, declaring that the Nigerian Army remains resolute in crushing all threats to national security.
During an operational visit to Yobe State, the Army Chief was received at the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu, by Governor Mai Mala Buni, in what officials described as a morale boosting engagement for troops on the frontline.
A statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to review operational realities and reinforce the Army’s strategic posture in the counter insurgency campaign.
Addressing troops and stakeholders, Shaibu acknowledged recent attacks on military positions, admitting the challenges posed by evolving tactics of insurgents, but insisted that the Army remains undeterred and firmly in control of its mission.
He disclosed that fresh operational adjustments were underway to respond to emerging threats, noting that the military was recalibrating its strategies to sustain gains already recorded across various theatres of operation.
The Army Chief stressed that despite the fluid nature of insecurity nationwide, troops would continue to confront terrorism with renewed determination, while calling on state governments to deepen support for ongoing military operations.
He commended the government and people of Yobe State for their consistent backing, describing civil military cooperation as a critical pillar in the quest for enduring peace.
At the Headquarters, Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai in Damaturu, the visit took a sombre turn as Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, accompanied by Senator Ali Ndume, paid a condolence visit over the recent loss of soldiers in combat.
Zulum pledged stronger collaboration with security agencies, assuring that his administration would evolve additional measures to complement military efforts in addressing the shifting security landscape.
In a direct engagement with troops, Shaibu charged soldiers to intensify offensive operations, urging them to remain relentless against terrorists in honour of fallen comrades and in pursuit of lasting national stability.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, who represented the governor, lauded the Nigerian Army’s resilience and sacrifices, noting that despite mounting pressures, the force has continued to record significant successes while defending the nation’s territorial integrity.