By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
Top military brass, including Major Generals, stormed Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede’s First 2025 Bi-Annual Conference.
The high-level meeting comes amid renewed Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks and rising criminality in parts of the North East.
In a significant move to bolster troops’ operational capacity, the COAS commissioned state-of-the-art Vanquish Armoured Tankers, handing them over to the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar.
According to Engineer Ishaku Duwa, a representative of the manufacturing company, the new tanks feature Night Vision Goggles, can travel over 80km on flat tyres, and offer 360-degree protection with upgraded suspension.
Declaring the conference open at the MSA Aliyu Hall, Maimalari Cantonment, Lt. Gen. Oluyede emphasized the need for strategic foresight, operational alignment, and community engagement to tackle evolving security threats.
“This pivotal gathering will identify areas for improvement and develop practical solutions to strengthen our effectiveness in safeguarding Nigeria’s peace and security,” he stated.
The COAS urged troops not to be demoralized by recent setbacks but to redouble efforts in ending insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping.
He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in line with the dynamic security landscape.
Oluyede paid tribute to soldiers who had paid the supreme price, describing their sacrifices as a painful yet necessary reminder of the fight to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty.
