The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Saturday as security agencies intensify efforts to rescue Nigerians held captive by terrorists and bandits.
Shuaibu arrived at the headquarters of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, at Maimalari Cantonment at about 11:00 am on 17 October 2026. His visit comes two days after President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to step up efforts to rescue all abducted persons across the country.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed the presidential directive on 15 October following a security meeting chaired by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Musa, the President directed security chiefs to take decisive action against terrorists and bandits, including dismantling their camps across the country.
He said Tinubu had instructed security agencies to locate and rescue all abducted persons, regardless of where they were being held.
“The directive from the President is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are,” Musa said.
The minister added that the President had ordered security chiefs to ensure adequate security during the elections scheduled for January, emphasising the need to protect voters and provide a safe environment for the exercise.
Shuaibu’s arrival comes amid persistent security challenges in northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-East, where troops continue operations against insurgent groups.
The visit is expected to involve engagements with military commanders in the region as the armed forces continue efforts to tackle insecurity. However, the specific link between the Army chief’s visit and the presidential directive has not been formally established.
The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies its focus on rescuing abducted Nigerians, dismantling terrorist and bandit camps, and strengthening security ahead of the forthcoming elections.
