Nigeria’s top military commanders have arrived in Borno State following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to immediately relocate to the region after deadly bomb attacks in Maiduguri left at least 23 people dead and more than 100 others injured.
The deployment comes as authorities intensify efforts to contain renewed security threats in Nigeria’s North-East, where insurgent violence had significantly declined in recent years.
About 24 hours after the presidential order, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, landed at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
They were received by senior military officers, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, before proceeding directly to the headquarters of the Joint Task Force overseeing counter-insurgency operations in the region.
Shortly after arrival, the Chief of Defence Staff inspected a quarter guard mounted in his honour as part of official military protocol.
Security sources say the service chiefs are expected to hold strategic meetings with frontline troops, government officials, and key security stakeholders to review the deteriorating security situation and develop urgent measures to address the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the state.
Their relocation is aimed at strengthening field coordination and providing direct oversight of military operations as pressure mounts to restore confidence among residents.
Monday’s bombings sent shockwaves through Maiduguri, triggering widespread fear and anxiety among residents who had enjoyed relative calm after years of sustained military operations against insurgent groups.
The renewed violence has raised fresh concerns about the operational strength of extremist groups in the North-East and the need for stronger intelligence-led security responses.
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