In a significant morale and operational visit to the frontlines, Nigeria’s top military commanders have delivered a dual message of gratitude and strategic resolve to troops combating insecurity in the North West. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, used a special Christmas luncheon at Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto, to reinforce core pillars of modern counter-insurgency: welfare, vigilance, and community trust.
The event, hosted for personnel of the 8 Division/Sector 2, Joint Task Force (North West) under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, transcended a mere festive gesture. It served as a high-level command engagement, underscoring the leadership’s recognition that long-term operational success is inextricably linked to troop morale and civil-military relations.
Beyond Festive Gestures: The Strategic Imperative of Welfare
While the Christmas luncheon provided a moment of respite, the Service Chiefs framed welfare within a broader, more critical context. Lt.-Gen. Shaibu explicitly connected it to “operational readiness and professionalism,” highlighting it as a central tenet of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing reforms. This signals a shift from viewing welfare as a periodic benefit to treating it as a foundational component of combat effectiveness. The pledge to improve living conditions, provide timely allowances, and support families of fallen heroes is not just compassionate—it’s a strategic investment in unit cohesion and retention, directly impacting the army’s capacity to sustain prolonged operations in challenging theatres like the North West.
The Human Element: Leadership, Recognition, and Shared Sacrifice
General Oluyede’s poignant statement—”the nation sleeps in peace because you remain awake at your duty posts”—powerfully framed the troops’ sacrifice. However, the leadership went beyond rhetoric. By sharing the festive moment with frontline personnel, they embodied the principle of shared hardship. This act of presence is a potent leadership tool, bridging the gap between high command and the rank-and-file. It fosters a sense of belonging and validates the immense personal cost borne by soldiers, especially during holidays. The public honouring of fallen personnel further cemented this bond, assuring troops that their service and potential sacrifice are valued and will be remembered.
A Multi-Dimensional Security Strategy: Vigilance and Civil Cooperation
The commanders’ addresses wisely balanced internal morale with external operational doctrine. General Oluyede’s warning against complacency, noting that “criminal elements often seek to exploit festive periods,” was a crucial tactical reminder. It acknowledged the adaptive nature of asymmetric threats, where adversaries actively look for lapses in routine.
More significantly, the call for “close collaboration with other security agencies, state governments, and local authorities” and “positive relations with communities” points to the evolved understanding of security in the region. Success against banditry and terrorism cannot be achieved by kinetic force alone. It requires civil-military cooperation (CIMIC)—gaining local trust to facilitate intelligence sharing, isolate criminal elements from the population, and support the restoration of civil authority. This people-centred approach is the cornerstone of the “decisive, intelligence-driven” strategies promised for Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
Contextualizing the Visit: The Sokoto and North West Security Landscape
Sokoto State, bordering the Niger Republic, is a critical flashpoint in the North West’s security challenges, which involve complex interplays of banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts. The visit by both the CDS and COAS to this specific location sends a strong signal of national priority. It emphasizes the high command’s direct focus on the region and serves to personally assess conditions, relay strategic directives, and bolster the chain of command. The reaffirmation of presidential support also aims to assure troops of sustained political and logistical backing for their mission.
Conclusion: A Holistic Blueprint for Stability
The Sokoto luncheon, therefore, was far more than a holiday event. It was a public demonstration of a command philosophy that links troop welfare to operational readiness, and kinetic action to community engagement. By addressing the human, tactical, and strategic dimensions simultaneously, Generals Oluyede and Shaibu outlined a holistic blueprint. The ultimate test will be in the consistent implementation of these pledges—transforming words into tangible improvements in welfare packages, intelligence-driven operations, and measurable gains in peace and stability for the people of Sokoto and the wider North West region.
Report based on a statement from the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, and analysis of strategic military communications.
