The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has ordered Special Forces to dismantle criminal networks with “speed and surprise.”
During his maiden operational visit to the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the Army Chief signalled the end of defensive tactics, telling troops that the military must now exert total control over the battlespace to eliminate the threat of insurgency.
Addressing a combined assembly of the 4 Special Forces Command and the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Lt. Gen. Shaibu emphasised that the nature of modern warfare requires a departure from traditional methods.
“The era of reactive engagements is over,” the COAS declared. “Terrorists and other violent criminals will find no sanctuary anywhere within Nigeria’s territory. We must remain proactive, adaptive, and mission-focused.”
He further underscored that the Special Forces are the “tip of the spear” in the current administration’s campaign to restore national security.
The visit was not solely focused on tactical directives. After receiving briefings from Major General Olurotimi Azubuike Awolo and Brigadier General Umar Faruk Abubakar, the COAS approved immediate infrastructure projects to boost morale and readiness.
These improvements include the immediate construction of additional accommodation blocks for personnel and the upgrading of critical training infrastructure at the Special Forces School. Furthermore, the Army Chief pledged a significant investment in modern combat enablers and intelligence tools to ensure the Special Forces maintain superiority over adversaries.
“A well-supported, professionally grounded force is essential to sustaining operational dominance,” Shaibu noted, reaffirming that the welfare of soldiers and their families remains a pillar of his leadership philosophy.
In a brief departure from military briefings, the COAS and his Principal Staff Officers participated in a tree-planting ceremony within the cantonment, a move the Army described as a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development within military formations.
The directive comes at a critical time as the Army seeks to consolidate gains in various theatres of operation across the country. By demanding precision-driven and intelligence-led operations, Shaibu is betting on the specialised training of the Doma-based units to turn the tide against asymmetric threats. #securitynewsalert.com
