Army chief arrives in Borno after Tinubu orders rescue of abductees
Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu Visits Maiduguri Amid Increased Military Operations
MAIDUGURI, Borno State — Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu arrived in Maiduguri on Saturday as part of the military’s intensified efforts to rescue Nigerians held captive nationwide.
Shuaibu reached the headquarters of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, located at Maimalari Cantonment, at approximately 11 a.m. on October 17, 2026. His visit follows a directive from President Bola Tinubu, issued days earlier, instructing security agencies to ramp up operations aimed at ensuring the safe return of all abducted individuals.
Defence Minister Christopher Musa announced the presidential directive on October 15, following a security meeting led by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Musa reported that the President charged security chiefs with taking decisive actions against terrorists and bandits, including the dismantling of their operational camps throughout the country.
“The directive from the President is clear: all security personnel must make every effort to locate and liberate all individuals who have been abducted,” Musa stated. “There should be no safe haven for terrorists or bandits anywhere in Nigeria.”
Additionally, President Tinubu instructed service chiefs and other security leaders to ensure robust security measures during the upcoming elections, scheduled for January. He underscored the importance of safeguarding voters and establishing a secure environment for the electoral process.
This development occurs amid ongoing security challenges in northern Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast, where military operations against insurgent factions continue.
