FIC Report (Oyo State) – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Wahid Shaibu, has issued a stern warning to terrorists and other crîminal elements, declaring that there will be no hiding place for terrorists in the Southwest and anywhere in Nigeria, saying the country’s forests, deserts, mountainous regions, or national parks would no longer hide them.
The Chief of the Army Staff made the declaration on Monday December 22nd during his operational visit to the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan, Oyo State. The COAS charged troops to intensify efforts and deny criminals any refuge or freedom of movement in the region.
“We must let them know that there is no safe haven anywhere. Come rain, come sun, forested areas, desert areas or mountainous areas, we are going after them,” Lt. Gen. Shaibu said, urging the officers and men of the Division.
He commended the troops for their recent successes in their area of responsibility, and urged them to maintain the momentum, emphasizing that crîminal groups have been exploiting difficult terrains to attack innocent citizens, the tactic the Army Chief said would no longer be tolerated.
General Shaibu specifically highlighted the ongoing security challenges in the Kwara general area, Kainji Lake National Park, and Old Oyo National Park, issuing firm directives for troops to clear all criminal elements from these zones.
“Directives are coming up so that you go and clear everything in that place. We are moving with ruthless determination to eliminate all those disturbing that terrain,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu stressed the importance of night operations and terrain dominance, particularly in forested areas, to restrict bandits’ operational space. He praised the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Division, and other senior officers for their leadership and clear focus.
Urging them further to lead from the front, the COAS described effective leadership as key to achieving victory over adversaries.
He expressed satisfaction with the troops’ morale, stating that he anticipated more tangible results in the coming days.
On their welfare matters, the COAS assured personnel that their well-being remains a priority, with prompt payment of entitlements and logistical support.
He announced approvals for additional barracks renovations and new constructions to alleviate accommodation challenges.
“You will be given all you require, and all your entitlements will be paid as and when due,” he promised, noting that sustained discipline, motivation, and improved welfare are essential for maintaining superiority against threats to communities.
The Army Chief’s visit underscores the Nigerian Army’s renewed commitment to ending banditry and restoring peace across affected regions.
It would be recalled that while presenting the 2026 annual appropriation bill to the National Assembly, the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, made declaration on the security situations in the country, in which he released his new security codes that would now guide the Armed Forces in their efforts to stem the tides of the insecurity, which have now bedeviled the country for more than a decade.
Signed
Moses Oyelade,
AD(I&PR),
FIC, Ibadan.
