CDS, COAS Visit Borno, Commend Troops, Order Intensified Offensive Against Terrorists

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, arrived in Maiduguri on an operational assessment visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), barely 24 hours after recent suicide bomb incidents within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

Addressing officers and troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, the CDS commended personnel for their resilience, sacrifice, and sustained operational pressure against terrorist elements across the theatre. He urged them to remain resolute and fully committed to the discharge of their duties.

This was contained in a press release signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI.

In a move to consolidate recent gains and prevent a recurrence of attacks, General Oluyede directed commanders to intensify offensive operations, strengthen intelligence gathering mechanisms, and adopt innovative, proactive strategies to dominate the battlespace.

He emphasised the need to maintain operational momentum and assured troops of continued strategic support from Defence Headquarters towards the decisive defeat of terrorism.

In his remarks, the COAS also praised the troops for their dedication, resilience, and sustained pressure on insurgents. He charged field commanders to escalate ongoing offensives and institutionalise a firm “never again” posture to deny terrorists any operational space, particularly during critical periods such as Ramadan and beyond.

Lieutenant General Shaibu further assured the Theatre Command of additional support and critical resources to enhance operational effectiveness, improve force protection, and reinforce ongoing military operations in the region.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander presented a detailed operational briefing on activities within the Joint Operations Area, outlining recent successes, ongoing engagements, and operational challenges. He noted that despite isolated setbacks, troops have continued to dominate the battlespace through sustained offensives carried out with professionalism and commitment.

According to him, over 200 terrorist elements were neutralised in recent operations, with several others sustaining severe injuries, significantly weakening their combat capability and limiting their ability to return to the battlefield.

The Theatre Commander reaffirmed that troops of Operation HADIN KAI remain determined, undeterred, and fully committed to sustaining intensified operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action and restoring lasting peace and economic stability across the North East.