Waidi Shaibu, chief of army staff (COAS), says the Nigerian Army is fully prepared to prevent any attempt by extremist groups to infiltrate the country.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency
publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Shaibu made the remarks on Sunday
during the grand finale of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026 in
Port Harcourt, Rivers state, while addressing the growing activities of foreign
jihadist groups along Nigeria’s borders.
He said the evolving security situation across the Sahel
demands heightened vigilance and sustained military readiness.
The army chief noted that instability in neighbouring
countries has increased the risk of cross-border terrorist movements. He added
that the army has already detected indicators of such threats along Nigeria’s
frontiers.
Shaibu expressed confidence in the capability of the army to
confront emerging dangers, drawing parallels with the institution’s historical
role in defending the nation during major conflicts, including the World Wars,
the Nigerian Civil War and regional peacekeeping operations.
“Despite the complex security environment, the Army remains
focused on its constitutional responsibilities of protecting the country’s
territorial integrity, defending citizens and supporting civil authorities
whenever required,” Shaibu said.
“More than 80 per cent of Nigerian Army personnel are
currently deployed in various operational theatres across the country,
reflecting the military’s commitment to tackling insurgency, terrorism,
banditry, separatist violence and other forms of insecurity.”
Shaibu said the army has continued to record operational
successes through sustained offensive operations, improved intelligence
gathering and enhanced collaboration with other security agencies.
He added that the service is investing heavily in training,
modern combat equipment and intelligence capabilities while strengthening
cooperation with sister services to improve operational effectiveness.
The army chief, however, said military operations alone
cannot permanently resolve Nigeria’s security challenges, calling for stronger
collaboration among governments, communities, traditional institutions, civil
society organisations and citizens.
“National security requires a collective effort in which every stakeholder contributes to promoting peace, stability and national development,” he said.
The army chief reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to
professionalism and ethical conduct, saying troops would continue to operate
within the law while protecting innocent citizens.
“The military would continue implementing the Federal
Government’s directive to decisively confront criminal elements threatening
national security,” he said.
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