In a significant visit underscoring the strategic priorities of Nigeria’s military leadership, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, convened with frontline troops in Sokoto State. The engagement, framed as a Christmas luncheon for personnel of the 8 Division/Sector 2, Joint Task Force (North West) under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, served as a platform to reinforce core operational doctrines: unwavering troop welfare, heightened vigilance, and deepened civil-military relations.
The event, held at Giginya Cantonment, transcended ceremonial hospitality. It represented a deliberate leadership tactic to bridge the gap between high command and rank-and-file soldiers, particularly those deployed in the challenging and volatile security terrain of the Northwest. General Oluyede’s commendation of the troops’ dedication—”the nation sleeps in peace because you remain awake at your duty posts”—was more than rhetoric; it was a public acknowledgment of the asymmetric burden borne by frontline personnel, especially during festive periods when national consciousness of domestic peace is most acute.
Central to the Service Chiefs’ message was a dual warning against complacency and malign influence. General Oluyede explicitly noted that criminal elements, including terrorist and bandit groups, often perceive festive seasons as windows of opportunity, calculating that security focus may waver. His directive to avoid distraction by “misinformation or propaganda” points to a recognized non-kinetic threat—the use of psychological operations and false narratives by adversaries to sow discord, demoralize troops, or alienate local communities. This highlights a modern understanding of conflict where the information domain is as critical as the physical battlefield.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu’s remarks anchored the visit in the Nigerian Army’s broader reform agenda. By explicitly linking “troop welfare, operational readiness, and professionalism,” he framed morale not as a peripheral concern but as a fundamental component of combat effectiveness. The tradition of such luncheons, he explained, is a structured “morale-boosting engagement” designed to affirm that “sacrifices are recognised at the highest levels.” This is a crucial element in military psychology, helping to mitigate the feelings of isolation and undervaluation that can erode unit cohesion in long-term deployment scenarios.
A poignant and operationally significant moment was the COAS leading troops in honouring fallen comrades. This act serves multiple purposes: it reinforces the bond of brotherhood within the ranks, assures serving personnel of institutional support for their families should the worst occur, and publicly commits the leadership to preserving the legacy of their sacrifice. This practice is vital for sustaining esprit de corps in a force continually engaged in active combat.
The reiterated commitment to “close collaboration” with other agencies and “positive relations with communities” signals a continued pivot towards a holistic, population-centric security model. Success in counterinsurgency and counter-banditry operations in the Northwest increasingly depends not on military action alone, but on the trust and cooperation of local populations who can provide critical intelligence and deny safe havens to criminals. The pledge to deploy “people-centred strategies” under Operation FANSAN YAMMA is a direct application of this doctrine.
Ultimately, the Sokoto visit was a strategic communication exercise with multiple audiences. For the troops, it was a morale and welfare check. For the political leadership, an assurance of proactive engagement. For the Nigerian public, a message of resolve. And for adversaries, a demonstration of high-command presence and sustained pressure. By thanking President Tinubu for “unwavering support,” the Service Chiefs also underscored the essential link between political will, resource allocation, and operational success on the front lines. The reinforced pledge of enhanced security thus rests on this triad of motivated troops, supportive communities, and sustained political backing.
(Based on a report by Sumaila Ogbaje for the News Agency of Nigeria)
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