COAS Shaibu Orders Special Forces to Crush Terrorists Nationwide

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops of the 4 Special Forces Command to intensify operations aimed at decisively defeating terrorists and insurgents across Nigeria.

During his maiden operational visit to the Command on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, in Doma, Nasarawa State, Lt-Gen Shaibu 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.”

In a statement by Army spokesperson Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS said the Nigerian Army Special Forces remain at the forefront of a determined campaign to dismantle criminal networks threatening national security. Addressing troops of the 4 Special Forces Command and the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, he stressed the importance of intelligence-led and precision-driven operations to dominate the battlespace.

Lt-Gen Shaibu urged personnel to remain proactive, adaptive, and mission-focused, noting that the evolving security landscape requires speed, surprise, and superior combat readiness.

Earlier, the COAS received operational briefings from Major General Olurotimi Azubuike Awolo, Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, and Brigadier General Umar Faruk Abubakar, Commandant of the Nigerian Army Special Forces School. He expressed satisfaction with training standards and operational preparedness, approving the immediate construction of additional accommodation blocks and critical facilities to enhance troop welfare and operational efficiency.

In a symbolic gesture promoting environmental responsibility, Lt-Gen Shaibu and principal staff officers also planted trees within the cantonment. He reassured officers and soldiers that their welfare and that of their families remain a top priority, pledging continued investment in training, logistics, and modern combat capabilities to maintain the Special Forces’ operational superiority.