The chief of the Nigerian Army, Waidi Shaibu, told troops Friday that the next phase of operations against the insurgent groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province would be decisive, coming just after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly threatened possible military action if Nigeria failed to halt violence against Christians.
Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, addressing soldiers under Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, said the military was entering a critical stage of the campaign and that “failure is not an option.”
“You have been training to defeat the terrorists disturbing the North-East. This time, you are going to do it differently,” Shaibu said. “All combat enablers have been provided. New platforms have been introduced, all to ensure that you succeed.”
Shaibu told troops that the responsibility for delivering a decisive blow to the extremist groups now rests with a new generation of soldiers, saying they must surpass the achievements of earlier forces who fought in previous domestic and international operations.
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The warning comes as security analysts report a shift in the conflict. While Boko Haram and ISWAP have been weakened, they are exploiting border gaps, harsh terrain and the Lake Chad basin to regroup. Analysts also say global geopolitical tensions, foreign extremist propaganda and disrupted arms trafficking routes could create openings for renewed militant activity.
Shaibu said experienced officers have been deployed to the theatre alongside upgraded equipment, suggesting expanded use of surveillance systems, mobility assets and precision-strike capabilities.
For many soldiers listening — some of whom have lost colleagues in the region’s difficult terrain — the message was direct. “Those before you have done it. This is your own time,” he said.
In an unusual departure from military formality, the army chief also spent time addressing troop welfare, which he described as essential to morale and performance on the front lines
