The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has assured Nigerians that troops will continue to tackle insurgency in the North East to ensure that economic activities thrive in the region.
Shaibu stated this during his visit to troops of the Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Saturday.
He said the mandate of the troops is to restore normalcy in the region.
“Just as I stated, my purpose of visiting the troops is just routine to see how the troops are operating in the North East, and to encourage the various commanders, and appreciate the resilience of our troops as they continue to tackle the problem of insurgency here,” the service chief said.
“They will continue to encourage them to put in their very best to ensure that socioeconomic activities thrive here in the North East.
“Their mandate is clear and simple: to restore normalcy in the North East and to ensure that socioeconomic activities thrive.”
The COAS, who also met with Governor Babagana Zulum, added, “I want to assure His Excellency that the troops are doing their best to ensure that they achieve that mandate.”
Addressing the troops earlier, he disclosed that the Army headquarters would provide them with all the enablers to ensure that they do their job properly.
“I’m here today to appreciate you for the good work you are doing across the theatre. It is heartwarming that your commitment, resilience in the fight against insurgency have tremendously improved the security situation in the Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai theatre of operation,” Shaibu said.
“As you are determined, we in army headquarters will provide you all the enablers to ensure that you do your job properly. You continue, listen to your commanders, adhere to instructions; then, lower commanders, you lead your men courageously.”
Shaibu’s visit followed directives from President Bola Tinubu to rescue all abducted persons nationwide.
On October 15, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, said Tinubu gave the directive to heads of security agencies during a security meeting presided over by the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu had also ordered that no terrorist or bandit camp remain anywhere in Nigeria.
Musa said Tinubu also directed the service chiefs and other security heads to guarantee a safe environment for Nigerians to vote in the elections scheduled for January.
“The directive from the President is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are.
“There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorists or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.
