The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has assured Nigerians that troops will sustain operations against insurgents in the North-East to restore normalcy and enable socioeconomic activities to thrive across the region.

Shaibu gave the assurance on Saturday during a visit to troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State.

He said the visit was aimed at assessing the troops’ operations, encouraging commanders and commending soldiers for their resilience in the fight against insurgency.

“Just as I stated, my purpose of visiting the troops is just routine to see how the troops are operating in the North East, and to encourage the various commanders, and appreciate the resilience of our troops as they continue to tackle the problem of insurgency here,” the Army Chief said.

He added that the troops would continue working to create an environment where economic and social activities could flourish.

“Their mandate is clear and simple: to restore normalcy in the North East and to ensure that socioeconomic activities thrive,” he said.

Shaibu, who also met with Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, assured him that the military was committed to achieving its operational objectives.

“I want to assure His Excellency that the troops are doing their best to ensure that they achieve that mandate,” he said.

Addressing the soldiers, the Army Chief commended their contributions to improving security across the Operation Hadin Kai theatre and pledged continued support from Army Headquarters.

“It is heartwarming that your commitment, resilience in the fight against insurgency have tremendously improved the security situation in the Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai theatre of operation,” Shaibu said.

He assured the troops that the Army Headquarters would provide the necessary support and equipment to enhance their operations.

“As you are determined, we in army headquarters will provide you all the enablers to ensure that you do your job properly. You continue, listen to your commanders, adhere to instructions; then, lower commanders, you lead your men courageously,” he added.

The visit comes amid renewed directives from President Bola Tinubu to security agencies to rescue all abducted persons across the country and eliminate terrorist and bandit camps.

On October 15, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed that Tinubu issued the directives during a security meeting with heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Musa said the President had ordered security chiefs to intensify efforts to locate and rescue abducted persons wherever 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,” he said.

“There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorists or bandits anywhere in Nigeria.”

Musa also said Tinubu directed service chiefs and other security heads to ensure a safe environment for Nigerians to vote in the elections scheduled for January.