The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja Oluyede, is currently in the North-East theatre of operations where he is overseeing frontline activities of Operation HADIN KAI, Nigeria’s flagship military campaign against insurgency.
His visit, which commenced earlier this week, aims to assess the operational effectiveness of the troops, strengthen field coordination, and enhance morale among personnel engaged in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts across Borno and neighbouring states.
Lt. Gen. Oluyede, known for his field-oriented leadership, was received by top military commanders and briefed on ongoing operations aimed at dismantling remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters still active in parts of the region.
According to military sources, the COAS has been visiting forward operating bases, interacting directly with soldiers on ground, and reiterating the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ending terrorism in the country.
“The Chief of Army Staff is leading from the front,” one source noted. “His presence alone has re-energized the troops and reminded them of the strategic importance of their mission.”
Lt. Gen. Oluyede has emphasized the importance of discipline, inter-agency collaboration, and civil-military relations, charging commanders to maintain offensive momentum and secure liberated areas for safe resettlement of displaced citizens.
Operation HADIN KAI, launched in 2021, continues to record gains in the fight against terrorism, with several insurgent enclaves neutralized and hundreds of fighters surrendering under sustained military pressure.
The COAS’s tour is expected to conclude with a strategic review session that will inform future deployments and tactical adjustments across the theatre.
This visit reinforces the Nigerian Army’s pledge under President Bola Tinubu’s administration to restore peace and stability in the North-East while safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
