COAS Waidi Shaibu Arrives Maiduguri After Tinubu Orders Rescue Of All Abducted Nigerians

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government to intensify operations against terrorists and bandits and secure the release of abducted Nigerians.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Shaibu arrived in the Borno State capital at about 11 a.m. on Saturday, two days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed security chiefs to rescue all kidnapped victims and eliminate terrorist and bandit camps across the country.

The purpose of the army chief’s visit has not been officially confirmed, and it remains unclear whether it is directly connected to the President’s latest directive.

However, Shaibu was expected to hold meetings with theatre, field and unit commanders operating across Borno State as part of efforts to assess security operations and strengthen military responses to threats in the region.

The visit comes after Minister of Defence Christopher Musa disclosed that Tinubu issued fresh instructions to security chiefs during a security meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Speaking about the meeting on October 15, Musa said the President ordered the heads of security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue all abducted persons, irrespective of where they were being held.

“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,” the minister said.

Musa added that Tinubu had directed security agencies to ensure that no terrorist or bandit camps remained anywhere in the country.

The President also tasked service chiefs and other security officials with providing a secure environment for Nigerians to participate in the elections scheduled for January.

Shaibu’s arrival in Maiduguri comes amid continuing security challenges in parts of the North-East and growing demands for stronger military action against insurgents, kidnappers and other armed groups.

The military’s engagements with commanders in Borno are expected to focus on operational priorities and ongoing security efforts, although details of the meetings and any resulting decisions have not been made public.