Nigeria’s top military commanders have relocated to Maiduguri following deadly bomb attacks that claimed at least 23 lives and left over 100 others injured in the state capital.
The deployment was ordered by President Bola Tinubu as part of urgent efforts to address the renewed wave of violence in Borno State.
Leading the security team are the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, who arrived in Maiduguri shortly after the presidential directive.
Upon arrival at the Air Force Base, the service chiefs were received by the Theatre Commander and proceeded to the headquarters of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, where they are expected to coordinate response strategies.
Their mission included direct engagement with frontline troops, consultations with government officials, and meetings with key stakeholders to tackle the resurgence of attacks linked to Boko Haram insurgents.
The coordinated bombings, believed to have been carried out by suicide attackers, struck multiple locations across the city, including a busy market, the entrance of a major teaching hospital, and a post office area.
The incidents have sparked fear among residents, particularly as the city had experienced relative calm in recent years.
Military authorities have warned of a heightened risk of further attacks, especially as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close.
President Tinubu, reacting to the violence, described the attacks as desperate attempts by terrorist elements to spread fear and destabilise the region.
He directed security forces to take full control of the situation and intensify efforts to restore safety.
The relocation of the service chiefs is seen as a strategic move to strengthen on-ground coordination and accelerate military operations aimed at curbing insurgency in the North-East.
