Army Chief Pushes for Terrorists’ Decisive Defeat, Assures OPHK Troops of Better Welfare
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) to sustain offensive operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, assuring them of improved welfare, modern combat equipment and better accommodation.
Shaibu gave the charge on Saturday, October 17, 2026, while addressing officers and soldiers at the 212 Tank Battalion Parade Ground in Maiduguri, Borno State, during an operational assessment visit to the North-East theatre.
He commended the troops for their courage, sacrifices and sustained offensive operations, which he said had significantly degraded terrorist capabilities and contributed to improved security across the region.
The Army Chief urged the troops to consolidate their operational gains, maintain heightened vigilance and intensify efforts towards the decisive defeat of terrorism in the North-East.
He stressed that discipline, combat readiness, resilience and professionalism remained indispensable to success in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign, assuring the troops that the nation had confidence in their ability to restore lasting peace and stability to the region.
“You must remain disciplined, resilient and focused. The nation is proud of you and looks up to you for the final defeat of terrorism,” Shaibu charged.
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Reaffirming his Soldier First philosophy, the COAS assured personnel of sustained attention to their welfare, including the provision of modern combat equipment, improved accommodation, adequate medical support and timely troop rotation.
He explained that improved welfare and operational support were essential to boosting troop morale, enhancing combat effectiveness and sustaining the Army’s capacity to confront evolving security threats.
Earlier, Shaibu received a comprehensive operational briefing from the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Ademola Ajose, and sector commanders.
The briefing covered the prevailing security situation, operational successes, emerging challenges and strategies for sustaining pressure on terrorist elements across the theatre.
The Army Chief also interacted with wounded soldiers, commending them for their sacrifices and service to the nation. He assured the injured personnel of continued medical attention, rehabilitation and institutional support.
The visit underscores the Army leadership’s emphasis on frontline engagement, sustained offensive operations and troop welfare as the Nigerian Army intensifies efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and consolidate security gains in the North-East.
Operation HADIN KAI remains a key component of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign against Boko Haram and ISWAP, whose activities have caused years of insecurity, displacement and humanitarian hardship across the region. Sustained military pressure, effective intelligence gathering and coordinated security operations remain critical to preventing the resurgence of terrorist groups and restoring normalcy to affected communities.
