The Nigerian Army has continued to strengthen the welfare of troops deployed in the North-East with the transportation of 348 passengers into and out of the Theatre of Operation HADIN KAI through its Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Welfare Flight initiative. The latest airlift, which took place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, marked the first welfare flight for November and was conducted using a chartered ValueJet aircraft. According to a report by security and defence-focused publication, Zagazola Makama, which quoted security sources, a total of 175 passengers were transported into the operational theatre, while another 173 passengers were airlifted out of the theatre. The movement was reportedly conducted smoothly without any operational hitch. With the latest exercise, the cumulative number of personnel and passengers transported into and out of the North-East operational theatre under the welfare flight arrangement has risen to 36,539. The initiative underscores the Nigerian Army's continued commitment to improving the welfare and operational well-being of officers and soldiers deployed in the counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East. The regular welfare flights provide an important transportation link for military personnel serving in the theatre, making movement into and out of the operational area easier while reducing some of the challenges associated with long-distance travel. Beyond facilitating personnel movement, the initiative is also considered an important morale-boosting measure for troops who continue to make sacrifices in the defence of the nation's territorial integrity and the fight against terrorism and insurgency. The welfare flight arrangement forms part of broader efforts by the Nigerian Army leadership to prioritise troop welfare, sustain morale and enhance operational effectiveness across its formations and theatres of operation. The latest development comes as troops of Operation HADIN KAI continue to sustain operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-East. Source: Zagazola Makama, November 6, 2026.