CoAS Orders Fresh Offensive Against Boko Haram, ISWAP in Northeast

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.