Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, have directed troops to intensify military operations against terrorist groups in the North-East following recent suicide bombings in Maiduguri.

The defence chiefs gave the directive during an operational assessment visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday—less than 24 hours after the attacks within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

Addressing officers and soldiers at the Maimalari Cantonment, Oluyede commended troops for their resilience and sustained pressure on insurgents, urging them to remain resolute in the fight against terrorism.

He instructed commanders to scale up offensive operations, enhance intelligence gathering, and adopt proactive strategies to maintain dominance on the battlefield. The CDS also assured personnel of continued support from Defence Headquarters to achieve a decisive victory over terrorist elements.

In his remarks, Shaibu praised troops for their dedication and charged field commanders to sustain ongoing offensives while adopting a firm “never again” posture to prevent further attacks, particularly during the Ramadan period and beyond.

He further pledged additional operational support and critical resources to boost effectiveness, strengthen force protection, and reinforce ongoing military actions across the theatre.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander briefed the visiting chiefs on operational activities, challenges, and recent gains recorded by troops. Despite isolated setbacks, he noted that forces have continued to dominate the operational environment through sustained offensives.

According to the briefing, more than 200 insurgents were recently neutralised, while several others were severely wounded, significantly weakening their combat capacity.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intensified operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action and restoring lasting peace and economic stability in the North-East.