By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division, Sokoto, and the Joint Task Force, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to sustain the current operational tempo and decisively eliminate bandits and terrorists operating within the 8 Division Area of Responsibility.
The charge was given on 27 December 2025 during an operational visit to formations and units under the 8 Division Area of Responsibility, when the COAS addressed troops of 248 Reconnaissance Battalion, Illela, Sokoto State.
In an official signed statement, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the Army Chief commended the troops for their gallantry, professionalism and resilience in confronting criminal elements whose activities have inflicted untold hardship on innocent Nigerians across the region.
Lieutenant General Shaibu praised the troops for the operational successes recorded so far, noting that their sustained efforts have significantly improved the security situation within the Area of Responsibility. He urged them not to relent, but to build on the gains achieved in order to completely dismantle bandit and terrorist networks threatening peace and stability.
“I commend you for your courage, professionalism and the operational successes recorded so far. Your sacrifices have translated into improved security in your Area of Responsibility. You must maintain the momentum to further annihilate and send the terrorists to their maker who is to decide what to do with them. We can no longer tolerate their excesses against the Nigerian people,” the COAS stated.
Reaffirming his commitment to the welfare of personnel, Lieutenant General Shaibu assured the troops that their well-being remains a top priority for the Nigerian Army leadership. He directed the construction of additional accommodation, medical and other essential facilities at Illela Barracks, aimed at improving the morale, living conditions and operational effectiveness of troops and their families.
The visit, according to the Army, underscores the COAS’s resolve to personally assess ongoing operations, motivate frontline troops and ensure that the necessary support structures are in place to enable them to effectively prosecute the fight against banditry and terrorism within the North-West and beyond.
