The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, visited soldiers wounded in action at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, on Friday, pledging improved medical care and support for their recovery.

According to a statement by Lt. Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the visit was part of General Shaibu’s maiden operational tour of the Joint Task Force, North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

During the visit, General Shaibu commended the troops for their courage and sacrifice in defending the nation and assured them of the Army’s commitment to providing adequate medical treatment, rehabilitation, and welfare support.

Recalling his own experience as a patient at the hospital after being wounded in action, the COAS said it had deepened his understanding of the challenges faced by injured personnel. He expressed confidence in the hospital’s competence and pledged continuous improvements in medical services for soldiers.

General Shaibu urged the wounded troops to adhere strictly to their treatment plans and reaffirmed that the welfare of soldiers and their families remains a top priority under his leadership. He also commended Brigadier General Godwin Ogoh, the Medical Director, and all hospital staff for their professionalism and dedication. The COAS, accompanied by senior officers, inspected ongoing upgrades at the facility.

The statement added that General Shaibu later visited Headquarters Sub-Sector 4 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA along the Kaduna–Abuja highway, where he assessed troop readiness, engaged with personnel, and received briefings on ongoing security operations in the region.