The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged the newly trained soldiers of the 90 Regular Recruit Intake to take the fight to terrorists and criminal elements, but insisted that they strictly adhere to the Rules of Engagement and the Law of Armed Conflict.

The charge came as no fewer than four Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed over the weekend after their military patrol vehicle ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Bargaja Road in Isa Local Council Area of Sokoto State.

Shaibu gave the directive over the weekend during the Passing Out Parade at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Kaduna State. He said the new soldiers have a critical role in ongoing operations aimed at boosting national security, following rigorous military training, including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

Charging the soldiers to confront all threats facing the nation, he emphasised that the Nigerian Army remains resolute in denying criminal elements any haven.

The COAS further cautioned the soldiers against the misuse of social media, warning that unprofessional conduct online and unauthorised disclosure of information could compromise operational security and undermine national efforts to defeat insecurity.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North East have announced major successes, as they detonated multiple IEDs planted on the Biu-Buratai Road in Borno, neutralised dozens of terrorists and arrested two of their logistics suppliers.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni, the operations took place between J
une 16 and June 19, 2026, when troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), in conjunction with the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), responded to residents’ intelligence on the emplacement of IEDs.

Goni said the troops identified and professionally detonated five IED cylinders along the route, adding that “the operation was executed successfully without any casualty, after which the troops safely returned to base.”

Goni stated that on 17 June, troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion also engaged an unconfirmed number of terrorists mounted on 60 motorcycles along the Miyanti–Ngoshe axis while withdrawing from a picketing duty in Kirawa.

According to him, the soldiers responded with overwhelming and sustained firepower to the terrorists’ fire, compelling the insurgents to retreat towards Miyanti in disarray.

He added that while the casualties on the side of the terrorists could not be immediately confirmed, troops recovered 817 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three motorcycles, two solar panels, 102 sachets of salt, one motorcycle tyre, two motorcycle tubes, and several other motorcycle spare parts.

Also on June 19, he said, troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade Garrison, acting on credible intelligence on terrorists’ logistics activities, arrested two suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province terrorist logistics suppliers, Mohammed Bukar, also known as “Dege, aged 35, and his apprentice, Iliyasu Abdullahi, aged 26, during a routine stop-and-search.