The Nigerian Army disclosed this development via its official X handle on Wednesday, confirming the Army chief’s presence in the theatre of operations.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General O.O. Oluyede, has relocated to the North-East to directly oversee military operations under Operation HADIN KAI amid intensified efforts to eliminate terrorist threats in the region.
The Nigerian Army disclosed this development via its official X handle on Wednesday, confirming the Army chief’s presence in the theatre of operations.
The move comes as Nigerian forces ramp up offensive operations targeting remaining pockets of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters entrenched in the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa Forest axis.
“Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General OO Oluyede currently in the North East overseeing Army operations in Operation HADIN KAI,” the army said in the post.
On May 1, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian Army had clarified that an explosion heard in Maiduguri, Borno State, was not the result of a terrorist attack, but rather an accidental detonation of munitions caused by intense heat at one of its facilities.
According to a press statement issued by the Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI and signed by Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, the incident occurred at an ammunition storage facility located within Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.
The army explained that the explosion was triggered by the “current high temperatures in Maiduguri, which led to the explosion of some munitions.”
According to the statement, the situation was quickly brought under control through the efforts of the Borno State Fire Service Department and support from other security agencies.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI were immediately deployed to secure the area and prevent miscreants from exploiting the incident.
“The general public is therefore urged to please discountenance any speculation of an attack within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and remain calm,” the statement read.
The army urged residents to go about their normal activities and disregard rumours suggesting the explosion was linked to an attack.
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