By Palang Paul
Nigeria’s top military Chiefs swooped on Maiduguri yesterday the 18th of March 2026, vowing vengeance and ordering an intensified onslaught against Boko Haram terrorists following a spate of suicide bombings that shattered the relative calm of the Borno State capital in North-Eastern Nigeria.
Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede and Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu arrived at the Maimalari Cantonment barely 24 hours after multiple suicide attacks rocked communities within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, in what appears to be a desperate attempt by insurgents to reclaim relevance after months of relentless pounding by government forces.
The high-powered delegation immediately proceeded to the Headquarters Theatre Command of Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, where they delivered a blunt message to field commanders: it is time to finish the job.
‘No More Mercy’
Addressing battle-hardened troops at the military cantonment, General Oluyede delivered a passionate charge to officers and men, commending their resilience and sacrifice while demanding an immediate escalation of offensive operations across the troubled theatre.
“The time for half measures is over,” Oluyede declared, his voice carrying the weight of a nation weary of terrorism. “I am directing commanders to intensify offensive operations against these terrorist elements. Strengthen your intelligence architecture. Adopt innovative and proactive strategies. Dominate the battlespace and deny them any breathing room.”
The Defence Chief, on his first operational visit to the theatre since assuming office, acknowledged the psychological impact of the recent suicide bombings but insisted such setbacks must catalyse, not diminish, the fight.
“We will not allow these cowards to dictate the pace of this war. Defence Headquarters will provide all the strategic support you need to achieve the decisive defeat of terrorism in this region,” he assured the troops, many of whom have spent years away from their families pursuing the elusive peace Nigerians desperately crave.
‘Never Again’ – COAS Reads Riot Act
Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, who spoke after the Defence Chief, struck an even more forceful tone, ordering field commanders to institutionalise what he termed a “never again” posture aimed at permanently denying terrorist elements any operational space or opportunity to strike.
The Army Chief’s message was particularly targeted at the ongoing Ramadan period, which insurgents have historically exploited to launch attacks against soft targets.
“Sustain and intensify ongoing offensive operations,” Shaibu commanded. “I want a firm ‘never again’ posture embedded in every formation, every unit, and every soldier. Deny these terrorist elements any operational space, any opportunity to strike, especially during this critical period and beyond.”
In a significant boost to morale, the COAS assured the Theatre Command of immediate additional support and critical enablers designed to enhance operational effectiveness and strengthen force protection across the joint operations area.
200 Terrorists Neutralised – Theatre Commander
Earlier, the Theatre Commander presented a comprehensive operational brief that painted a picture of a campaign gaining momentum despite isolated setbacks.
According to his briefing, troops have maintained relentless pressure on insurgent enclaves, with recent operations resulting in the neutralisation of over 200 terrorist elements, while several others sustained severe injuries that have effectively removed them from the battlefield.
“These operations have significantly degraded their combat capability,” the Theatre Commander disclosed. “We are preventing their return to the battlefield systematically and deliberately.”
Despite the recent suicide bombings, the commander insisted troops remain undeterred and fully committed to sustaining intensified offensive operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action across the North East.
The Road Ahead
The visit by the military hierarchy sends unmistakable signals of the federal government’s determination to crush the insurgency that has plagued the North East for over a decade. With the Theatre Command now under direct orders to intensify operations and the promise of additional resources, military sources indicate that the coming weeks could prove decisive in the long-running counter-insurgency campaign.
For the residents of Maiduguri, who have endured the trauma of suicide bombings even as relative peace returned to their city, the message from their military chiefs offered both reassurance and a warning: the road to lasting peace will be difficult, but this time, the military intends to walk it to the very end.
Operation HADIN KAI troops, according to the Theatre Commander, remain resolute in their mission to restore enduring peace and economic stability across the entire North East region.
Post Comment