The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division to intensify offensive operations and decisively flush out bandits and other criminal elements operating within the division’s Area of Responsibility.
The directive was given on Monday, 22 December 2025, during the COAS’s maiden operational visit to the 2 Division at Odugbo Barracks, Ibadan, where he addressed officers and soldiers of the formation.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended the troops for their resilience, professionalism and operational effectiveness in tackling banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality across the area.
“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.”
The COAS also reaffirmed his commitment to improving troop welfare, revealing that approvals have been granted for the renovation of existing accommodation and the construction of new residential facilities within the barracks. He stressed that troop morale remains critical to operational success and assured personnel that welfare remains a top priority under his command philosophy.
In a press statement, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the Army Chief further urged troops to properly maintain existing accommodation and facilities to ensure a conducive living and operational environment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu reiterated that sustained pressure on criminal elements, combined with improved welfare and professionalism, remains central to the Nigerian Army’s efforts to restore peace and security within the 2 Division Area of Responsibility.
