By Ndahi Inusa, Maiduguri
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, has commended troops for their bravery in decimating scores of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in the Lake Chad region.
Recall that in the early hours of Wednesday 18th June 2025, his personnel effectively repelled an attack by the terrorists and neutralized many of them while several others were injured in an attempt to destroy government and security facilities.
The CNS who arrived the Nigerian Airforce Base in Maiduguri at about 11:am on Saturday was received by the Theatre Commander, North East Joint Task Force ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar and other top military brass.
Ogalla was accompanied by the Chief of Operations, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferriera, the Chief of Logistics, Rear Admiral OK Oluwagbire and the Navy Secretary, Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu who along side the Theatre Commander flew into Baga Naval Base Lake Chad and addressed the gallant troops.
The CNS charged troops fighting Boko haram terrorists to remain resolute as the Federal Government is making resources available to them, and to also address their challenges at the frontline immediately.
He also assured troops that the Naval Headquarters is already working on deploying additional fighting equipment and manpower to further support their efforts.
Ogalla charged the troops to take the battle to all the enclaves of the terrorists groups in and around the Lake Chad and ensure that the water ways of Lake Chad is safe for all.
” I’m here on an operational visit to Naval Base, Lake Chad and by extension to the ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ (OPHK), Theater Command Headquarters. This Base is one of the strategic Bases for the Nigerian Navy’s contribution to counter insurgency in the Northeast.
” I have also come to commend you because of the efforts you put in ensuring that the enemy ( ISWAP) suffered great casualties when they came to attack the Naval Base recently . If at any time they want to attack our Naval Base again, they will think twice because of the the massive defeat they suffered. ” CNS Ogalla said .
He added that , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Military authority is fully committed to the welfare of troops, noting that, all that is required is being accorded the desired attention.
The Chief of Naval Staff also advised the troops to eschew any form of inter – agency rivalry, pointing out that, the collective objective should focus on taking out the enemy of the state.- Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.
” The Battalion here and the Navy Base must work as twin brothers of fighting against this hydra- headed threat of insurgency here .” The CNS said .
While returning back to Maiduguri, the CNS paid courtesy call on Governor Babagana Zulum where he assured Government and people of Borno that the Navy personnel deployed in the region would work in synergy with other security agencies to defeat remnants of Boko Haram and other terrorists in the North East.
Responding, Governor Zulum commended the Nigerian Army under the Joint Task Force ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ and other security agencies in the fight against terrorism.
He pledged continued government support by providing security agencies with logistics and other equipment to enable them have successful operations.
The CNS later visited the wounded Officers and Soldiers in the cause of their rules of engagement, and now receiving treatment at the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, where he gave them cash and prayed for their quick recovery.
