Troops’ Offensive Posture Has Crippled Terrorists’ Momentum
— GOC
*As Army Pushes Gains, Resettles Communities
By Chidi Omeje
The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, Brig. Gen. Ugochukwu Unachukwu, has declared that sustained offensive operations by troops have effectively disrupted and degraded the operational momentum of Boko Haram/ISWAP elements threatening Maiduguri and its environs.
Speaking during a media briefing at his headquarters, the acting GOC outlined a campaign defined by persistence, tactical aggression, and coordinated strikes, which he said have yielded measurable gains across the theatre. According to him, troops have maintained an unrelenting posture that has kept insurgents on the defensive and denied them the ability to execute planned high-profile attacks.
He recalled a period when insurgents audaciously threatened to stage Sallah celebrations within Maiduguri, a move he described as a direct challenge to the authority of the state. “We immediately took the battle to them in their enclaves within the Sambisa Forest,” he said, noting that the pre-emptive offensive not only neutralised the threat but forced the terrorists into disarray. “They were unable to carry out their plans and were left fleeing for their lives.”
Brig. Gen. Unachukwu emphasised that this offensive momentum has been sustained over the past year, significantly weakening insurgent capabilities and restoring a measure of normalcy to previously volatile areas.
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Beyond battlefield successes, the commander highlighted growing humanitarian and stabilisation gains linked to improved security. He disclosed that increased troop dominance has enabled the safe relocation and repatriation of displaced Nigerians, including refugees who had fled to neighbouring Cameroon.
He cited the return of residents of Kirawa who had taken refuge across the border, as a notable milestone, describing it as a testament to the confidence restored by military operations. Several other communities, he added, have also been successfully resettled, with troops providing continuous security to ensure the safety of returnees.
“Lives and livelihoods are gradually being restored in areas that were once under the grip of insurgents,” he said, attributing the progress to the dedication and gallantry of troops on the ground.
The acting GOC also underscored the military’s role in supporting food security, noting that soldiers routinely escort farmers to their farmlands and remain in proximity to guarantee their safety during farming activities. This, he said, is critical to reviving agricultural production in the region.
While acknowledging that occasional setbacks are inevitable in counter-insurgency operations, Brig.-Gen. Unachukwu maintained that such reversals have not diminished the resolve of the troops. “Our soldiers remain resilient, focused, and fully committed to their mandate of defending the nation,” he affirmed.
He called on Nigerians to sustain their support for the Armed Forces, warning that negative narratives and misinformation could undermine troop morale. “Every profession, whether in politics, media, civil service, or commerce, depends on peace and security. Supporting the troops is, therefore, in the collective interest of all Nigerians,” he said.