By Joy Odor
Nigeria’s new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, is no stranger to the sound of battle.
His elevation from Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) to the apex of the Nigerian Army is not just a promotion, it is the culmination of a leadership journey defined by tactical precision, innovation, and an unflinching commitment to national stability.
Shaibu’s appointment marks a decisive shift toward results-driven command. As Theatre Commander in the North-East, he oversaw one of the most effective counter-insurgency campaigns in recent memory, a 14-month tenure that broke terrorist strongholds, revitalized troop morale, and reopened the road to peace in territories long ravaged by Boko Haram and ISWAP.
When Shaibu assumed command, he found a fatigued force and overstretched logistics. Within weeks, he embarked on an aggressive asset recovery and modernization drive, refurbishing a fleet of armoured platforms including ten VP1 Type-89 APCs, five BMPs, three Steyr APCs, and six Camel MRAPs.
The overhaul paid off. During the 2024 dry-season campaign, his forces launched deep-clearance operations through Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuktu Triangle, crippling insurgent supply chains and command networks.
Between February 2024 and March 2025 alone, 567 terrorists were neutralized, and dozens of enclaves flattened.
The Nigerian Air Force complemented these gains with over 230 sorties and 232 interdiction missions, while UAV units executed 760 ISR operations totalling more than 6,600 flight hours, giving ground troops unmatched battlefield visibility.
The result: 9,800 patrols, 2,700 ambushes, and nearly 1,000 clearance operations with record success rates.
Shaibu’s leadership blended hard power with human intelligence. His intelligence-led operations dismantled logistics networks, leading to the arrest of 161 terror financiers and suppliers, while a remarkable 121,000 insurgents and family members surrendered, tipping the balance from combat to reconciliation.
Yet his approach extended beyond combat. In February 2024, he launched the Local Community Policing and Peace Enforcement (LCPPE) model, a doctrine that fused military operations with grassroots engagement.
The initiative deepened trust between troops and civilians, enabling the safe resettlement of over 4,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Borno and Yobe.
He also championed civil-military diplomacy, introducing humanitarian and religious outreach programmes, including a Qur’anic Recitation Competition that fostered moral resilience among troops and civilians.
The symbolic sponsorship of three winners for the Hajj pilgrimage reinforced his belief that enduring security requires both faith and force.
Behind the frontlines, Shaibu’s tenure was marked by an unrelenting focus on welfare and infrastructure. He modernized the Joint Task Force (North-East) Headquarters, built new lounges for escorts and drivers, renovated soldiers’ quarters, and commissioned 30 community-based housing units for military families.
The installation of long-range surveillance cameras in Monguno, Gajiram, and Kekeno revolutionized field intelligence, while improved logistics reduced casualties and response times.
His “eyes-in-the-sky” approach became the backbone of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism intelligence grid.
Under his watch, the military neutralized several of the region’s most feared terrorist leaders including Tahir Baga and Abu Rijal whose deaths dismantled jihadist coordination and recruitment pipelines.
His strategy of decapitation, paired with humanitarian outreach, weakened the insurgents’ ideological appeal while restoring hope in liberated towns.
In recognition of these feats, the OPHK under Shuaibu’s command received the Security Watch Africa Award (2024) for “Most Outstanding Defence Command in Africa,” cementing his reputation as one of the continent’s most effective battlefield commanders.
Now at the helm of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Shuaibu faces a broader canvas, and higher stakes. Defence analysts predict that his proven blend of operational discipline, innovation, and community engagement will shape the Army’s transition into a modern, intelligence-driven, people-centred force.
“Shaibu represents the evolution of the Nigerian soldier — fierce on the field, forward-thinking in doctrine,” said one senior security strategist. “He understands that stability is not only won by bullets but by trust and systems that sustain peace.”
His rise from Brigade Commander in Bama to GOC 7 Division, Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College, and now Chief of Army Staff is a testament to merit, grit, and an unbroken chain of achievement.
As Nigeria recalibrates its national security architecture, Shaibu’s appointment signals a doctrine shift: from reactive warfare to proactive defence, from firepower to foresight.
Bottom Line:Major General Waidi Shaibu is more than a soldier in command — he is the architect of a new military ethos. His tenure promises not just to fight wars, but to end them the right way: through discipline, innovation, and the unity of those he leads.
