By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Damaturu
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, has pledged to ramp up military operations in Nigeria’s northeast to bring an end to the lingering Boko Haram insurgency, even as he warned of worsening insecurity across the Sahel that could spill into the country if left unchecked.
Speaking during a visit to Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State in Damaturu on Wednesday, General Oluyede said the Nigerian Army is deploying additional troops and support systems to reinforce its counter-insurgency operations across the region.
“We are bringing in more enablers, more troops and more mechanisms to ensure peace returns fully,” he said. “I served in Yobe for over two years as brigade and sector commander. I cannot allow the peace we fought hard to restore to be eroded now that I’m the Chief of Army Staff.”
The Army chief noted that while there had been recent setbacks, including renewed Boko Haram attacks in Gujba and Gulani LGAs that claimed the lives of four soldiers last week, the military remains committed to reversing the trend.
“I assure the people of Yobe and Nigerians in general that we will not return to the dark days of 2015. We must not allow insecurity to consume this country,” he said. “If we don’t act now, the fire burning through the Sahel could reach us, and then we’ll be in serious trouble.”
Governor Buni, in his remarks, reaffirmed his government’s support for the military and called for greater collaboration between the Army and the Air Force in tackling insurgency and other security threats.
“Security is a shared responsibility. We must all do our part to defeat terrorism,” the governor said, applauding the military’s resilience and sacrifices.
The visit comes at a time of renewed concern over the activities of Boko Haram and other extremist groups, particularly in remote areas of Yobe State, where attacks have surged in recent weeks.