The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has ordered troops of the Joint Task Force North Central, Operation Savannah Shield, to escalate their crackdown on kidnappers, bandits, and other criminals in the region.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief gave the charge on Thursday, May 28, 2026, during his first operational visit to the task force headquarters at Sobi Barracks in Ilorin, Kwara State.

General Shaibu emphasized that the Nigerian Army is fully committed to its constitutional duty of protecting lives and property. He urged troops to maintain maximum pressure on criminal networks, deny them freedom of movement, and prevent them from infiltrating local communities. To support this mission, he assured personnel that Army Headquarters is deploying additional combat enablers and resources to flush out criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the North-Central zone, the COAS promised continued investments in troop welfare to boost morale and operational readiness. He also reminded the soldiers to uphold strict discipline and loyalty to the constitution. Earlier, the Theatre Commander, Major General Y. Yahaya, thanked the COAS for his strategic backing, reassuring him that the forces remain dedicated to restoring peace to the region.

Option 2: Bulleted Summary (Best for quick reading)

Key Takeaways: COAS Operational Visit to Operation Savannah Shield

• The Directive: COAS Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has ordered a major scale-up of military operations against bandits, kidnappers, and criminal syndicates across the North-Central region.

• The Visit: The mandate was delivered on Thursday, May 28, 2026, during his maiden tour of the Operation Savannah Shield headquarters at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Kwara State.

• Increased Support: Army Headquarters is injecting fresh combat enablers and operational resources to dismantle criminal hideouts, specifically targeting hotspots across Kwara and Niger states.

• Troop Welfare & Discipline: General Shaibu reaffirmed that personnel welfare remains a top priority for sustaining high morale, while demanding absolute discipline, professionalism, and constitutional loyalty from the troops.

• Command Assurance: The Theatre Commander, Major General Y. Yahaya, expressed gratitude for the strategic support from leadership and pledged the task force’s unwavering commitment to restoring regional stability.

Option 3: Press Release Style (Formal & Direct)

COAS General Waidi Shaibu Demands Decisive Action Against Criminality in North-Central

ILORIN, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Army is set to intensify its offensive against criminal elements in the North-Central region following direct orders from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.

Speaking during his maiden operational tour of Operation Savannah Shield at Sobi Barracks on Thursday, General Shaibu tasked the Joint Task Force with decisively routing bandits and kidnappers. A statement by Army Public Relations Director, Colonel Appolonia Anele, noted that the COAS pledged additional combat enablers to fortify clearance operations in Kwara and Niger states.

“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property,” General Shaibu stated, emphasizing that troops must aggressively deny criminals the freedom to terrorize innocent citizens.

Alongside operational readiness, the Army Chief linked combat effectiveness to personnel well-being, promising enhanced welfare packages for troops and their families. In response, Theatre Commander Major General Y. Yahaya thanked the COAS for his visionary leadership and guaranteed that the task force would relentlessly pursue its mandate to restore peace.