By Mahadi Tukur Almizan
Nigeria’s recently-appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has committed to intensifying military campaigns against insurgents in the country’s north-east, responding to growing pressure from the United States over religious-based violence.
Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu made the pledge during a visit to Maiduguri in Borno State — a region heavily impacted by the conflict involving Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP.
Addressing troops and staff, he stated that failure was “not an option”, and that the military would be reinforced with additional resources, improved logistics and better soldier welfare.
The development follows a warning from Donald Trump and the United States, which designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” for religious-freedom violations, threatening direct action if attacks on Christians were not addressed.
Security analysts highlight that the insurgency is multifaceted — involving not just jihadist violence, but also communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, and general instability in the north.
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