The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC) Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD (OPSS) to intensify ongoing military operations aimed at decisively crushing kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements threatening peace and security across the North Central region.
Key Highlights:
The Army Chief gave the directive on Thursday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters of JTF North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD at Sobi Barracks in Ilorin.
Addressing the troops, Lieutenant General Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain the current operational tempo to deny criminal elements the ability to infiltrate communities, terrorise innocent citizens or undermine national security.
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He assured the troops that additional combat enablers and operational resources were being deployed to strengthen ongoing clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara State and Niger State.
He also reiterated his commitment to the welfare of officers, soldiers and their families, describing troop welfare as essential to maintaining high morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged personnel of the operation to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Major General Y. Yahaya, commended the Army Chief for his strategic leadership, timely interventions and sustained support towards improving the operational capacity of the task force.
Major General Yahaya assured the COAS that troops under the operation would remain committed and steadfast in carrying out their mandate of restoring lasting peace and stability within the North Central region.



