Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff, has announced that military forces are gaining ground in the effort to locate 39 students and seven teachers kidnapped in Oyo State. The victims were seized on May 15 from various schools located in the Orire Local Government Area. General Shaibu shared this update while meeting with media leaders in Port Harcourt during the Nigerian Army Day Celebration.
The Army Chief expressed optimism regarding the safe recovery of the captives. He emphasized that the Nigerian Army is maintaining active operations across all six geopolitical zones to combat security threats. Regarding the North East, he reported that Operation Hadin Kai has successfully eliminated over 1,872 insurgents, including a prominent Islamic State leader, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. These actions have facilitated the return of displaced citizens to their homes, exemplified by the closure of the Bama camp in Borno.
Regional updates indicate continued progress in the North West against banditry, while operations in the North Central have bolstered stability in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, and Kogi states. In the South South, crackdown efforts against oil theft and illegal bunkering have led to increased crude oil production. General Shaibu also mentioned that the Federal Government is expanding military capacity, with President Bola Tinubu approving a third army depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi, to join existing facilities in Zaria and Osogbo.
To support this expansion, the Army has launched a massive recruitment drive for 28,000 new personnel, with 14,000 already undergoing or having completed specialized training. The training curriculum has been revamped to prioritize counter-terrorism and marksmanship. Furthermore, the military has bolstered its capabilities by acquiring advanced hardware, including drones, armoured personnel carriers, and mine-resistant vehicles, ensuring the force remains prepared to protect the nation effectively.
