Nigeria’s top military commanders have ordered a renewed and intensified offensive against terrorist groups in the North-East following recent suicide bomb attacks in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, arrived in the city on Wednesday for an operational assessment at the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai, the joint task force leading counter-insurgency efforts in the region.
Their visit came less than 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu directed military chiefs to relocate to Borno in response to a series of deadly attacks, including suicide bombings in crowded locations such as a market and a hospital. The incidents left at least 23 people dead and over 100 others injured.
Earlier on the same day, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched coordinated attacks on military formations in Ajilari, Baga, Buratai, and Damboa, although security forces said the assaults were successfully repelled. Another attempted attack on a military position in Malam Fatori was also thwarted, with the military reporting that dozens of insurgents were killed.
Amid concerns of further attacks, especially during the final days of Ramadan, the army has urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
Addressing troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, the defence chief praised soldiers for their resilience and urged them to sustain pressure on terrorist groups. He called for stronger intelligence gathering, more aggressive operations, and proactive strategies to maintain control of the battlefield.
Similarly, the army chief commended the troops’ dedication and charged commanders to adopt a firm “never again” approach, aimed at preventing insurgents from regrouping or launching fresh attacks. He also assured personnel of increased resources and operational support to strengthen their effectiveness and safety.
The theatre commander, in his briefing, noted that despite recent attacks, troops have continued to maintain dominance in the region through sustained offensives, revealing that over 200 terrorist fighters have been neutralised in recent operations, with many others injured.
