The Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has reaffirmed the military’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance security and humanitarian operations across the North East.
This commitment was underscored during separate courtesy visits by the Conservator of Parks, Chad Basin National Park, CP Innocent Asuquo, and the Deputy Head of Office of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Nigeria, Ms Patricia Mucheche, to the Headquarters of OPHK in Maiduguri, Borno State.
During his visit, CP Asuquo called for deeper collaboration between the Chad Basin National Park and OPHK to improve security within national parks and forest reserves across the region.
He stressed that no single agency could effectively address the prevailing security challenges, noting that sustained inter-agency cooperation was essential to prevent terrorists and criminal elements from using parks and forest areas as hideouts.
The Conservator commended OPHK for its sacrifices and resilience in restoring peace and security in the North East, expressing confidence that enhanced collaboration would further consolidate gains made in the fight against insurgency.
Responding, Major General Abubakar reiterated OPHK’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with the Chad Basin National Park and other critical stakeholders. He observed that the evolving security environment demands stronger collaboration, particularly in addressing threats emanating from ungoverned forest spaces.
The Theatre Commander highlighted the role of park services and forest guards in biodiversity conservation, environmental security, and community development.
He urged effective monitoring and utilisation of park areas to promote tourism while denying criminal elements freedom of action.
He also assured the Conservator of continued support, including capacity-building initiatives to improve operational effectiveness.
In a related development, Ms Mucheche sought enhanced collaboration between UN OCHA and OPHK to improve humanitarian service delivery to vulnerable populations in the North East.
She acknowledged the military’s support in facilitating humanitarian access to affected communities, describing the partnership as critical to reaching those in need.
Ms Mucheche also appealed for increased access to vulnerable populations and additional security support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), particularly during ongoing resettlement efforts and the approaching rainy season.
In his response, Major General Abubakar praised UN OCHA for its sustained humanitarian interventions, describing the organisation as a dependable partner in OPHK’s non-kinetic operations.
He highlighted UN OCHA’s contributions in food distribution, nutrition support, prevention of gender-based violence, emergency response, disaster management, and family reunification efforts.
According to him, the collaboration has significantly improved the welfare of vulnerable populations, especially through resettlement initiatives that have enabled displaced persons to return to their ancestral communities and rebuild their livelihoods.
The Theatre Commander reaffirmed OPHK’s commitment to providing a secure and enabling environment for humanitarian operations through sustained patrols and counter-improvised explosive device (IED) measures aimed at making routes safer for aid workers and beneficiaries.
He assured that OPHK would continue to create safe and protected environments for vulnerable populations across the region.
Both visits featured the signing of the visitors’ register, exchange of souvenirs, and group photographs.
Among those present at the engagements were the Deputy Theatre Commander, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa; the Chief of Staff, Headquarters OPHK, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed; Component Commanders; Principal Staff Officers; and other senior military officers.
