Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army, has charged graduating recruits under the Restore Hope initiative to apply decisive force against bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements threatening national peace and security. The charge was given on Thursday, 18 June 2026, during the graduation ceremony of the Restore Hope programme for the 90 Regular Recruit Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army Shooting Range in Zaria.
Critical Period in Nigeria's History
Shaibu emphasized that Nigeria is currently navigating a critical period, as criminal elements masquerading as bandits and kidnappers continue to inflict hardship on citizens through abductions and the destruction of lives and property. He stated, “The security challenges confronting Nigeria today are complex, uncertain, and ambiguous. Terrorism, banditry, and other asymmetric threats demand not only courage but also intelligence, discipline, and strategic thinking. The era of relying solely on conventional responses to unconventional threats is behind us.”
Call for Professionalism and Ethics
The army chief urged the recruits, who will be inducted into military service in two days, to remain resolute, professional, and uncompromising in dealing with criminal elements while operating within the Rules of Engagement and the highest standards of military ethics. He congratulated them for completing modern and rigorous training, assuring them that the Nigerian Army has acquired modern combat enablers and is pursuing additional capabilities to enhance operational effectiveness and safety.
Restore Hope Initiative
The Restore Hope initiative is a specialized programme designed to instill professionalism, discipline, resilience, and unwavering loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, preparing recruits to respond effectively to evolving security challenges.
Operation Clean Sweep in Katsina
Meanwhile, on the fourth day of “Operation Clean Sweep,” troops conducted a well-coordinated clearance mission targeting terrorist strongholds in and around Tuga, within Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. Leveraging real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance support, complemented by precision strikes from the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, troops cleared several terrorist camps. They recovered a large number of rustled livestock, including 36 cattle, 280 sheep, and two donkeys, disrupting the economic lifelines of criminal groups sustained through cattle rustling and related illicit enterprises.
Relentless Incursion Strategy
In a statement, the Nigerian Army said troops sustained operational momentum, advancing further into the notorious Fafu Forest, applying the “relentless incursion strategy” aimed at denying terrorists safe havens. “Following coordinated aerial and artillery bombardments on identified targets, troops converged within the objective area, engaging and destroying several terrorist camps and concealed hideouts embedded within difficult terrain. In the course of exploitation, the troops uncovered a hideout linked to a notorious terrorist leader, where kidnapped victims were being held under harsh conditions. Two lifeless bodies were recovered at the site, while one victim, identified as Nura Yar’Adua, was found in chains and successfully rescued.”
The statement confirmed that further assessments indicated the effectiveness of the operation, with terrorist logistics structures destroyed and clear signs of enemy casualties observed within targeted locations, signifying a significant degradation of their operational capability.
