Dare Babalola
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has emphasised the urgent need for intensified efforts in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
Shaibu, on Friday, cautioned troops that the next offensive would be decisive in determining the success of ongoing efforts to eliminate Boko Haram and ISWAP activities in the region.
The COAS gave the directive while addressing troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, informing the soldiers that the Nigerian Army was entering a critical and defining stage of the war, which failure was not an option.
“You have been training to defeat the terrorists that have been disturbing the North-East. This time, you are going to do it differently. All combat enablers have been provided. New platforms have been introduced, all to ensure that you succeed,” he said.
The recent directive issued by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, emphasizing the urgency of counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, may be connected to the threat of military action by US President Donald Trump.
The US president had accused Nigeria of allowing the mass slaughter of Christians and threatened to take military action against the country if the government failed to protect its citizens.
This development comes on the heels of Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to alleged religious freedom violations.
The Nigerian government has denied these claims, but the US administration has maintained that it will take action to protect Christians and other vulnerable groups in the country.
Given the current tensions between the two countries, it is likely that the COAS’s directive is aimed at preparing the military for potential threats and escalating the fight against insurgency.
