The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has ordered a relentless and sustained offensive against bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements operating within the 2 Division Area of Responsibility, vowing to crush all forms of insecurity in the zone.
The directive was issued on Monday, December 22, 2025, during the Army Chief’s maiden operational visit to the 2 Division Headquarters at Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan.
In a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS charged officers and soldiers to intensify ongoing operations and decisively neutralise criminal networks wherever they are found.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended the troops for their resilience, professionalism and operational effectiveness in confronting banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the division’s area of responsibility.
“I have been thoroughly briefed on your operations and the remarkable successes you have recorded,” the Army Chief said. “I commend your efforts and urge you to sustain the momentum. Go after the kidnappers and other miscreants wherever they are—whether in the bushes, forests or their hideouts—and ensure these criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum,” he charged.
Reaffirming his commitment to troop welfare, the COAS disclosed that approvals have been granted for the renovation of existing accommodation as well as the construction of new residential facilities within the barracks. He stressed that the morale and well-being of personnel remain central to his command philosophy and critical to achieving operational success.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also urged troops to properly maintain existing facilities to ensure a conducive living and working environment, assuring them that the Nigerian Army leadership remains fully committed to supporting them in the discharge of their constitutional duties.
The visit underscored the Army Chief’s resolve to sustain pressure on criminal elements and strengthen internal security across the country through decisive military action and improved welfare for personnel.
