The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Friday signaled urgency over the critical phase of counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, warning troops that the next offensive will determine the success of ongoing efforts to end Boko Haram and ISWAP activities in the region.

Speaking while addressing troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, on Friday, Shaibu told troops that the Nigerian Army was entering a decisive stage of the war and that failure was not an option.

“You have been training to defeat the terrorists that have been disturbing the North-East. This time, you are going to do it differently. All combat enablers have been provided. New platforms have been introduced, all to ensure that you succeed,” he added.

Shaibu stressed that this phase of the operation belongs to the new generation of soldiers, insisting that they must surpass previous achievements of troops who fought in earlier national and international missions.

The Army Chief did not sugarcoat the reality. He reminded the soldiers that the responsibility of dealing a decisive blow to Boko Haram and ISWAP now rests on their shoulders. For the first time in years, a sense of urgency and alarm echoed through the ranks.

The North-East is experiencing a dangerous shift. Boko Haram and ISWAP, though weakened, are exploiting border vulnerabilities, leveraging harsh terrain and regrouping around the Lake Chad axis.

Military analysts warn that with militants also attempting to exploit global geopolitical tensions including increased foreign extremist propaganda and disrupted arms trafficking routes any hesitation in Nigeria’s offensive could reverse recent gains.

This aligns with Shaibu’s own warning: there is no room for complacency.

“Very battle-tested officers have been posted into the theatre. All combat enablers have been provided. New platforms have been introduced,” he told the troops. The emphasis on “new platforms” suggests the deployment of advanced surveillance tools, upgraded mobility assets and precision strike capabilities.

For soldiers watching him speak many of whom have lost colleagues, fought in hostile terrain and endured harsh conditions the message was sobering: “Those before you have done it. This is your own time.” He said.

In a rare shift from military-formal speech to personal assurance, the Army Chief focused extensively on welfare, a key factor in troop morale and battlefield performance.

“Your welfare has been taken care of from improved ration cost allowance, to prompt payment of all your allowances, to improved medical health care. We will continue to improve on your well-being,” he said.

He also announced greater investment in accommodation, and even in schools for soldiers’ children.

“We will ensure your children go to the best schools our command schools and Army children’s schools,” he added, prompting applause from the troops.

It is unusual to see welfare presented as part of operational efficiency but the message was clear: A soldier fighting with peace of mind fights harder, and longer.

Shaibu’s visit signals that the military is preparing for sustained offensive operations not defensive response.

“You have done it before, and this time you will do it very well,” the COAS told the troops.

“Are you assuring me you will give your best?”

The troops responded in unison: “Yes, sir!”

This message will reverberates beyond the parade ground to forest enclaves and remote islands along the Lake Chad basin where insurgents still lurk.

Nigeria is bracing for a critical chapter in the war. (Zagazola)