Babangida Advocates Better Funding, Welfare for Military Veterans,  Fallen Heroes’ Families

By Haruna Musa

Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has urged the Federal Government to strengthen financial support and welfare programmes for retired military personnel and families of soldiers who died while serving the nation.

Babangida made the appeal when the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Morenike Henry, led members of the organisation’s leadership on a courtesy visit to his residence in Minna.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Legion’s Media Officer, Oloriegbe David.

During the meeting, Babangida acknowledged the difficulties confronting military veterans and assured the delegation that he would engage relevant government authorities to explore possible solutions aimed at improving their welfare.

He also praised the leadership of the Nigerian Legion for its continued advocacy and commitment to safeguarding the dignity and wellbeing of retired servicemen and women.

According to him, the sacrifices made by those who defended Nigeria during their years of service should never be forgotten, stressing that veterans deserve sustained support from the nation they served.

Earlier, Henry outlined several pressing challenges affecting ex-servicemen and women. She cited inadequate access to medical care, insufficient funding for healthcare services, and the economic struggles faced by widows of soldiers who lost their lives in active duty.

She appealed for financial assistance that could amount to about five to six months’ salary for widows of fallen soldiers, explaining that such support would help them establish small-scale businesses and sustain their families.

Henry further noted that many military personnel enlist at a young age and often face significant financial and social challenges after retirement or in the event of death during service.

The Legion chairman also renewed calls for the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Veterans Affairs, saying such an institution would ensure a structured and lasting support system for former members of the armed forces.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye, advised the leadership of the Legion to avoid protests while pursuing their demands.

Undiandeye commended the proposal to establish a Ministry of Veterans Affairs and stressed the need for accountability and transparency in managing funds meant for veterans’ welfare.

He encouraged the organisation to focus on programmes that directly benefit retired soldiers and their families, adding that constructive dialogue with government authorities remained the most effective path to achieving policy reforms and improved funding.

Responding, Henry expressed gratitude to the defence intelligence chief for his support in facilitating the successful hosting of the Nigerian Legion Council meeting.

CoAS Orders Fresh Offensive Against Boko Haram, ISWAP in Northeast

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, has directed troops under the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), to intensify offensive operations against remnants of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operating across the region.

The army chief gave the directive on Saturday during an operational assessment visit to the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The visit, according to military sources, was aimed at reviewing the current security situation in the theatre and evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing operations, while strengthening strategic collaboration with other security agencies and key stakeholders.

Addressing troops at the theatre command headquarters, Shuaibu praised the courage, resilience and sacrifices displayed by personnel of Operation Hadin Kai in safeguarding civilians and weakening terrorist networks across the Northeast theatre covering Borno State, Adamawa State and Yobe State.

He urged soldiers to remain vigilant and sustain the momentum of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts to bring an end to the insurgency that has plagued the region for nearly 17 years.

“The troops must remain steadfast, maintain a high level of situational awareness and continue to push forward with ongoing operations until the remaining terrorist elements are completely neutralised,” he said.

The army chief also stressed the need for stronger coordination among operational sectors and units, supported by improved intelligence gathering to enhance military posture and consolidate the gains already recorded on the battlefield.

Shuaibu further instructed troops to maintain sustained operational pressure on insurgents, particularly during the closing phase of the Ramadan fasting period and beyond.

He emphasised that the era of remaining on the defensive was over, noting that soldiers must continue to pursue terrorists into their strongholds.

According to him, troops should intensify operations in notorious insurgent hideouts including the Sambisa Forest, the Lake Chad Basin, and the Mandara Mountains which stretches into parts of Adamawa and Taraba states.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force, Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, briefed the army chief on recent military operations, successes recorded by troops and the challenges currently confronting forces in the theatre.

Abubakar assured the Chief of Army Staff of the unwavering professionalism and commitment of troops in the ongoing campaign to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.

He noted that despite isolated setbacks recorded in some locations, the morale and combat readiness of soldiers remain high across the theatre of operations.

Airstrikes Deal Heavy Blow to Terrorists as 50 Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Killed in Borno Border Battle

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The air component of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai has killed more than 50 terrorists belonging to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province in Ngoshe, following multiple precision airstrikes that targeted insurgents fleeing a failed attack on a Nigerian Army position.

Security sources in Maiduguri disclosed on Thursday that the insurgents had launched a coordinated evening assault on Nigerian Army artillery positions in Ngoshe at about 7:30 p.m. on March 3.

The border community, located about 12 kilometres south of Pulka, has been repeatedly attacked by insurgents between 2013 and 2024, forcing many residents to seek refuge across the border in Cameroon for over a decade.

According to a military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, the insurgents attempted to overrun the artillery position through a surprise assault.

“The terrorists tried to seize the artillery location during the evening attack,” the officer said.

The counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama reported that troops on the ground carried out what the military described as a “tactical withdrawal under intense fire” to protect personnel and equipment while reinforcements were mobilised to secure Ngoshe and nearby border communities.

Sources said the attackers employed a hit-and-withdraw tactic, retreating from the scene before reinforcement troops could fully secure the area.

However, surveillance aircraft tracked the fleeing fighters along identified escape corridors leading toward the Mandara Mountains and the notorious Sambisa Forest.

“Upon receiving real-time intelligence from ground forces, air assets were deployed to engage the terrorists along their escape routes,” the officer said.

According to the source, the insurgents were seen moving in clusters at two different locations, prompting the deployment of precision strikes.

“Precision strikes were carried out on confirmed target clusters and movement trails. Battle damage assessment indicates that more than 50 terrorists were killed in two separate strike runs,” he added.

The coordinated ground-air response under Operation Hadin Kai lasted for about an hour, significantly disrupting the insurgents’ logistics and mobility along the Ngoshe–Pulka axis.

Military sources confirmed that clearance and area-domination operations are currently underway to prevent surviving fighters from regrouping.

The Ngoshe–Gwoza axis has remained volatile in recent years due to sporadic activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants who often exploit the rugged terrain and cross-border forest zones.

The military, however, reaffirmed its resolve to sustain pressure on the insurgents.

“Operation Hadin Kai remains committed to sustaining offensive pressure. The message is clear: any attempt to attack our positions will be met with overwhelming and coordinated firepower,” the officer said.

He also reassured residents of Gwoza and surrounding communities of the military’s continued commitment to protecting lives, supporting resettlement efforts and consolidating gains recorded in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in Borno State.