Army Chief Arrives in Borno After Tinubu Orders Clearance of Terrorist Camps

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Saturday, two days after President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to rescue all abducted persons and ensure that no terrorist or bandit camp remained anywhere in the country.

Shaibu arrived in the state capital at about 11 a.m. and proceeded to the headquarters of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, at Maimalari Cantonment.

The visit followed a security meeting presided over by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, during which the President instructed security chiefs to intensify efforts to rescue kidnapped victims and dismantle criminal camps.

Minister of Defence Christopher Musa disclosed the presidential directive after the meeting on October 15. He said the President had charged security agencies to locate and rescue abducted persons wherever they were being held.

Tinubu also directed service chiefs and other security heads to ensure a safe environment for Nigerians ahead of the elections scheduled for January.

Although it had not been established whether Shaibu’s visit was directly connected to the President’s directive, he was expected to meet with theatre, field and unit commanders across Borno State.

The visit comes amid continuing military operations against insurgent groups in the North-East, where armed groups have carried out attacks on communities and security formations.

The Army chief’s engagement with commanders is expected to provide an opportunity to assess operational activities in the theatre, as security agencies continue efforts to combat terrorism and protect civilians.