Nigeria, Nov. 8 -- The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) to prepare for what he called a decisive phase in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Nigerian North-east.

Addressing soldiers at the OPHK headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday, the army chief said the Nigerian Army was entering a critical stage of the counter-insurgency campaign and that "failure is not an option."

"You have been training to defeat the terrorists disturbing the North-east. This time, you are going to do it differently. All combat enablers have been provided. New platforms have been introduced-all to ensure your success," he said.

Mr Shaibu, a lieutenant-general, said the ongoing phas...