The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has issued a stern directive to commanding officers and soldiers to crush terrorists without mercy in Nigeria's ongoing fight against insurgency.

The order came during the closing ceremony of the COAS Bi-annual Conference held in Maiduguri on Friday, where top-ranking army generals spent three days deliberating on strategies to safeguard national peace and security.

"There is no contesting our decision to completely neutralise these detractors to peace," Oluyede declared. "I charge each and every officer and soldier to spare no quarter in running these terrorists and criminals to the ground. They seek to disrupt our way of life and destroy the society that our forefathers built. We will not allow such to happen."

The Army chief emphasized that all strategic decisions made during the conference must be implemented to achieve the objectives set out in this first Bi-annual gathering. He announced plans to introduce additional combat resources in the coming weeks to strengthen ongoing operations.

"We need to understand that the strength of the Nigerian Army does not solely lie on the weapons we place on the battlefield, but more in the will of our soldiers who wield them," Oluyede stated, highlighting the importance of leadership in guiding the next generation of military personnel.

The COAS acknowledged the current security challenges facing the nation, describing them as threats to Nigeria's socio-cultural heritage. He expressed satisfaction with the quality of discussions during the conference, noting that the intellectual contributions exceeded his expectations.

"I therefore make bold to say that the objectives of this first Bi-annual conference have largely been achieved, judging by the well-articulated inputs and contributions," he said. "Concerted efforts will be made to implement these suggested measures in our current and future engagements."

This directive comes at a critical time when Nigeria continues to battle various security challenges across different regions, with terrorist groups threatening the peace and stability of the nation.