The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of the 4 Special Forces Command to intensify and sustain high-impact operations aimed at decisively defeating terrorists and insurgents across the country.
The directive was issued during his maiden operational visit to the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
In a statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, the COAS disclosed that the Nigerian Army Special Forces remain at the forefront of a determined campaign to dismantle and neutralise criminal networks threatening national security.
Addressing troops of the 4 Special Forces Command and the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasised the strategic importance of precision-driven and intelligence-led operations in dominating the battlespace.
He urged personnel to remain proactive, adaptive and mission-focused, stressing that the evolving security environment demands speed, surprise and superior combat readiness.
Reaffirming his operational philosophy, the Army Chief declared that the era of reactive engagements is over, warning that terrorists and other violent criminals will find no sanctuary anywhere within Nigeria’s territory.
Earlier, the COAS received comprehensive operational briefings from the Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Major General Olurotimi Azubuike Awolo, and the Commandant, Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Brigadier General Umar Faruk Abubakar. He expressed satisfaction with the Command’s operational outlook and training standards.
To further strengthen capacity, Lieutenant General Shaibu approved the immediate construction of additional accommodation blocks and critical facilities to enhance training capabilities, operational efficiency and troops’ welfare.
He assured officers and soldiers that their welfare, and that of their families, remains a top priority under his leadership. According to him, a well-supported and professionally grounded force is essential to sustaining operational dominance. He pledged continued investment in training, logistics and modern combat enablers to ensure the Special Forces maintain superiority over adversaries.
In a symbolic gesture underscoring environmental responsibility and sustainable development within Nigerian Army formations, the COAS and Principal Staff Officers also planted trees within the cantonment during the visit.
