Nigeria’s top military commanders have arrived in Maiduguri in line with a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a move aimed at addressing escalating security challenges in the North-East.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, touched down at Maiduguri Air Force Base on Wednesday morning. Their visit marks a renewed push against insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, operating in the region.
At around 11 a.m., the commanders were welcomed by the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, alongside other senior military personnel. Following the reception, they proceeded to the Theatre Command Headquarters to review the current security situation.
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The service chiefs also visited the Maimalari Military Cantonment, where a brief Guard of Honour was held before focusing on operational matters. They later held a closed-door meeting with field commanders to discuss strategies, including intelligence sharing, new operational methods, and urgent actions to curb recent attacks across Borno and neighbouring states.
The arrival of the top commanders comes amid rising concerns over ambushes on soldiers and attacks on civilians, suggesting insurgent groups may be regaining strength.
A senior defence official explained that relocating operations closer to the conflict zone aims to improve coordination, accelerate decision-making, and boost troop morale on the ground.
The Chief of Defence Staff is expected to brief journalists following the meeting, with further updates on the military campaign anticipated in the coming days.
