“No theatre in the country enjoys a stronger partnership than the one we enjoyed with Borno State Government” — Maj Gen Abubakar
By Zagazola Makama
The outgoing Theatre Commander, North East Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has lauded the Borno State Government for what he described as unwavering support to military operations, declaring that no theatre of operations in the country enjoyed a stronger partnership with its host government than the relationship between OPHK and the Borno State Government.
Abubakar made the declaration during his farewell and introduction engagement with humanitarian partners, representatives of the Borno State Government and members of the press in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
He said the partnership between the Theatre and the state government had been critical to the fight against insurgency, protection of civilians, restoration of normalcy and the return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities.
“I say it plainly; no theatre of operations in this country enjoys a stronger partnership with its host government,” Abubakar said.
The outgoing commander specifically commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his sustained support to Operation HADIN KAI, particularly through the provision of critical combat enablers that had strengthened the operational capacity of troops across the Theatre.
He listed Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs), long-range surveillance cameras and drones, among other support provided by the Borno State Government.
According to him, the state government’s contributions had gone beyond ordinary civil-military cooperation, providing practical capabilities that directly supported troops in their efforts to protect communities and degrade terrorist networks.
“These critical contributions have strengthened the partnership between the State Government and Operation HADIN KAI, and reinforced our collective resolve to defeat the insurgency, protect innocent lives, sustain peace, restore normalcy and enable the safe return of displaced persons to their communities,” he said.
Abubakar said the support was particularly significant because the restoration of normalcy in the North-East required a strong partnership between the military and the government responsible for the welfare and recovery of affected communities.
He urged the Borno State Government to maintain the partnership with his successor, saying the incoming Theatre Commander would require the same level of cooperation and support to consolidate the gains already recorded.
“I therefore respectfully request that this same partnership and support be extended to the incoming Theatre Commander as he assumes the duty of sustaining the gains we have made,” he said.
The outgoing Theatre Commander extended his appreciation to the wider humanitarian community, particularly organisations operating in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
He commended the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) for its continued support to vulnerable populations and its contribution to stabilisation efforts across the North-East.
Abubakar said humanitarian organisations had remained important partners in addressing the consequences of the insurgency, particularly the suffering of displaced persons and other vulnerable civilians.
He said their work, guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality, had complemented the security efforts of Operation HADIN KAI in tangible ways.
“Your work, guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality, has alleviated the suffering of the most vulnerable and has complemented our stabilisation efforts in tangible ways,” he said.
He explained that the military had also continued to support humanitarian operations by providing protection, escorts and an enabling security environment for aid workers to operate.
According to him, the relationship was based on complementary responsibilities, with the military creating the security conditions while humanitarian organisations delivered assistance to affected populations.
The Theatre Commander also highlighted the importance of regular dialogue between military and humanitarian actors.
He described the recent humanitarian roundtable as a productive engagement that provided stakeholders with an opportunity to examine coordination challenges and improve the conduct of humanitarian operations.
Abubakar urged stakeholders to institutionalise such engagements, saying regular dialogue would help prevent misunderstandings and improve the delivery of assistance to vulnerable communities.
He reiterated that requests for military escorts by humanitarian organisations should be made 48 hours before movement to enable the Theatre to properly plan and provide appropriate security.
“I urge this partnership to be maintained,” he said.
Abubakar also paid tribute to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its specialised capacity-building support to Operation HADIN KAI.
He said the organisation had provided valuable assistance to the Theatre both within and outside Nigeria, particularly in areas relating to professionalism, International Humanitarian Law and protection of civilians.
He singled out the ICRC’s support for improving detainee management at the Joint Interrogation Centre, saying the intervention had strengthened the Theatre’s handling of persons in custody.
According to him, the improvements recorded in detainee management contributed to commendations received by OPHK both locally and internationally.
He acknowledged that the relationship between the military and humanitarian community had sometimes experienced disagreements, but said the ability to resolve such issues through dialogue remained one of the major achievements of the partnership.
“I know our relationship with the humanitarian partners has not been without friction, but the honest dialogue we have built is itself an achievement, and I enjoin you to protect it,” Abubakar said.
The outgoing commander also expressed appreciation to Team HADIN KAI, describing its integration into OPHK since May 8, 2026, as a strategic partnership that had strengthened the Theatre’s intelligence-led operations.
He said the team had supported precision targeting, non-kinetic operations and capacity building, thereby improving the Theatre’s common operational picture.
Abubakar cited the May 15, 2026 operation at Metele, which he said resulted in the neutralisation of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, identified in his speech as the ISIS second-in-command, as a notable outcome of the partnership.
He said the collaboration had enhanced the professionalism and effectiveness of OPHK’s counter-terrorism efforts.
The outgoing Theatre Commander also acknowledged the contribution of the British Defence Staff – West Africa, particularly in strengthening OPHK’s combat capabilities and Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) capacity.
He said British military advisers had contributed expertise, capacity building and equipment support.
Abubakar noted that the partnership had recently expanded to direct engagement with Forward Operating Bases, including support for defensive measures, tactical drone deployment and improved surveillance.
He urged his successor to build upon and further consolidate the relationship.
Partnership linked to return of displaced persons
Abubakar’s commendation of the government and humanitarian organisations came against the backdrop of significant progress in the return and resettlement of displaced populations.
He disclosed that more than 7,000 displaced families had returned to their ancestral communitiesacross Borno State during his tenure.
He said communities that had remained abandoned for years were gradually being reoccupied, with returned communities now present in every Local Government Area of the state.
The Theatre also facilitated the rescue of 638 civilians from terrorist enclaves, while all 46 studentsinvolved in the attempted abduction at the Federal Government Girls College, Monguno, were safely rescued.
He further highlighted the voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of more than 3,000 Nigerians from Cameroon, carried out through the collaboration of the Borno State Government, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
According to Abubakar, these developments demonstrated that security operations, humanitarian intervention and government support were mutually reinforcing components of the wider effort to restore normalcy.
The outgoing Theatre Commander also appreciated other security agencies, hybrid forces and what he described as the “friends of OPHK” for their support throughout his tenure.
He said their information, cooperation and encouragement had helped shape collective efforts toward fulfilling the Theatre’s mandate.
Abubakar said the fight against insurgency required more than military operations, stressing that sustainable recovery depended on the combined efforts of security agencies, government institutions, humanitarian organisations and communities.
As he handed over the Theatre to the incoming 16th Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose, Abubakar appealed to all partners to sustain the cooperation that had characterised his tenure.
He said the partnership between OPHK and its stakeholders had contributed significantly to the gradual return of normalcy, including the reopening of markets and trade routes, resumption of educational activities and the return of displaced families to their ancestral homes.
He urged all partners to give Ajose the same openness, cooperation and goodwill extended to him, saying the consolidation of peace in the North-East would depend heavily on maintaining the partnerships built over the years.
