Nigeria’s highest-ranking military officers have arrived in the embattled city of Maiduguri, ordering a “never again” posture against insurgent groups following a series of suicide bombings in the state capital.

In a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for the joint task force “Operation Hadin Kai,” it was confirmed that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, landed in Borno on Wednesday for an emergency operational assessment. The visit comes less than 24 hours after suicide bombers targeted the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, raising fresh concerns over regional stability.

‘Dominate the battlespace’

Addressing troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, General Oluyede praised the resilience of the personnel but demanded a more proactive approach to intelligence and combat. He directed commanders to move beyond defensive positions and “dominate the battlespace” to prevent a recurrence of the recent attacks.

The military leadership emphasized that the timing of the offensive is critical, particularly as the country observes the holy month of Ramadan. Lieutenant General Shaibu echoed this sentiment, urging field commanders to deny “terrorist elements” any operational space to strike during this sensitive period.

Strategic gains

Despite the recent setbacks in the city, the Theatre Commander provided a briefing suggesting that the military maintains the upper hand in the wider region.

Key points from the operational update include:

• Casualties: Over 200 insurgents were reportedly neutralized in recent skirmishes.
• Capability: The military claims the combat capacity of the groups has been “significantly degraded,” preventing many injured fighters from returning to the front lines.
• Support: The Army Chief promised the immediate deployment of “critical enablers” and additional hardware to strengthen force protection in the northeast.

A regional anchor

Borno State has been at the heart of a decade-long insurgency that has displaced millions across the Lake Chad Basin. For the international community, the stability of Maiduguri is seen as a barometer for the security of the wider Sahel region.

The visit by the top brass is intended to project a sense of control and reassure both the troops and the civilian population that the recent bombings are “isolated setbacks” rather than a shift in the momentum of the conflict.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to restoring “enduring peace and economic stability” to the region, which remains a vital hub for cross-border trade with Chad and Cameroon.