The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, together with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, visited Maiduguri on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, for an operational assessment of the Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK). The visit came less than 24 hours after recent suicide bombings in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
Addressing troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, General Oluyede commended their resilience and sacrifices in maintaining operational pressure against terrorist elements. He directed commanders to intensify offensive operations, strengthen intelligence networks, and adopt innovative strategies to dominate the battlespace. He assured personnel of continued strategic support from Defence Headquarters to achieve the decisive defeat of terrorism.
Speaking later, the COAS lauded the troops’ unwavering dedication and encouraged field commanders to institutionalise a “never again” posture to prevent terrorists from exploiting any operational gaps, especially during critical periods such as Ramadan. He also promised additional support and critical enablers to improve operational effectiveness, reinforce force protection, and sustain intensified offensives across the theatre.
The Theatre Commander presented a detailed operational brief, highlighting ongoing engagements, challenges, and recent successes. He reported that over 200 terrorist elements had been neutralised in recent operations, with several others severely injured, significantly degrading their combat capabilities.
He reaffirmed that OPHK troops remain fully committed to denying terrorists freedom of action, sustaining intensified operations, and restoring enduring peace and economic stability across the North East region.
