The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has signalled urgency regarding the critical phase of counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, warning troops that the next offensive will determine the success of ongoing efforts to end Boko Haram and ISWAP activities in the region. Addressing troops of North East Joint Task Force ‘Operation HADIN KAI’ (OPHK) in Maiduguri, Borno State, Shaibu declared that the Nigerian Army was entering a decisive stage of the war and that failure was not an option.
The Army Chief confirmed that necessary resources have been fully deployed for the imminent operation. He told the troops: “All combat enablers have been provided. New platforms have been introduced, all to ensure that you succeed.”
Lieutenant General Shaibu stressed that this crucial phase of the operation belongs to the new generation of soldiers, insisting that they must surpass the previous achievements of troops who fought in earlier missions. He reminded the soldiers that the ultimate responsibility of dealing a decisive blow to Boko Haram and ISWAP now rests on their shoulders, urging them to do it “differently” this time.
Military analysts have warned that the North-East is currently experiencing a dangerous shift, with Boko Haram and ISWAP, though weakened, exploiting border vulnerabilities and harsh terrain, particularly around the Lake Chad axis, to regroup. Given that militants are also attempting to exploit global geopolitical tensions and disrupted arms trafficking routes, analysts cautioned that any hesitation in Nigeria’s offensive could reverse recent gains.
In a move aimed at boosting morale, the Army Chief shifted from formal military speech to extensively focus on troop welfare, a key factor in battlefield performance. He assured the troops that their welfare has been addressed, citing “improved ration cost allowance, to prompt payment of all your allowances, to improved medical health care.” He also announced greater investment in accommodation and in schools for soldiers’ children, stating, “We will ensure your children go to the best schools, our command schools and Army children’s schools.”
