By Babagana Bukar Wakil Nigeria
In a decisive move to reinforce Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations and sustain troop morale, the Chief of Defence Staff CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has embarked on an operational visit to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai, headquartered in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The visit comes on the heels of a recent overnight fire at Giwa Barracks and renewed terrorist threats in the region. Accompanied by senior commanders from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, General Musa assessed damage from the incident and reviewed ongoing military operations.
Reaffirming the military’s control over security in the Northeast, General Musa noted that Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants are being systematically cleared. “In the past week alone, we’ve made critical gains in Sambisa Forest and the Timbuktu Triangle,” he said. “These are temporary spikes in activity. We remain committed and capable of securing every inch of Nigeria.”
In a significant development, the CDS announced the arrival of 113 naval personnel in Maiduguri, marking a strategic shift to deepen joint operations across land, sea, and air. He also confirmed the deployment of new military hardware, advanced air assets, and experienced commanders to bolster operations.
Addressing broader regional concerns, General Musa highlighted Nigeria’s strategic response to the instability in the Sahel region—particularly in Mali, Chad, and Niger—emphasizing a balanced approach through regional coordination and non-aligned diplomacy.
Crucially, the CDS revealed enhanced international cooperation, with renewed military engagement with Russia playing a key role. “Russia has long been a strategic partner,” he stated. “Our recent discussions reaffirm that relationship. We look forward to increased collaboration, especially in equipment supply, counterterrorism training, and intelligence-sharing.”
General Musa also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Armed Forces, Immigration Service, and key ministries to intensify border security. He noted that advanced surveillance technologies are being deployed, and a national census committee has been established to create a secure, verifiable database of Nigerian citizens.
“This will help us identify who belongs within our borders and who doesn’t,” he said. “The government is also considering physical barriers in high-risk border areas.”
Concluding the visit, General Musa underscored the military’s commitment to professionalism, human rights, and civilian protection, vowing that all operations would uphold the highest ethical standards in line with global norms.
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