By Nkechi Eze
A United Kingdom–based media delegation from Channel 4 News has visited the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in Maiduguri, Borno State, in a move that underscores growing international interest in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts and the operational strides being recorded in the North East.
The delegation, led by Channel 4 News Senior Producer and Team Leader, Mr Freddie Gower, was received at the Theatre Headquarters, where they were taken through detailed operational briefings on the mandate, achievements, challenges, and ongoing stabilisation efforts of Operation HADIN KAI. The visit was aimed at providing the international community with first-hand, factual insights into the successes of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism.
In an official signed statement, the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed that Mr Gower explained that his team’s visit to Nigeria was driven by the need to accurately present the significant progress recorded by the Nigerian Armed Forces against terrorist groups. He noted that Channel 4 News, headquartered in London, has a global reach and a strong focus on major human-interest stories, terrorism, and asymmetric warfare, making on-the-ground engagement critical to its reporting.
According to Mr Gower, the visit would enable the delegation to gain deeper perspectives through direct interactions with commanders in the theatre as well as engagements with local communities affected by the conflict. He expressed profound appreciation to the Theatre Commander for the warm reception accorded the team, describing the visit as both insightful and rewarding. He commended the comprehensive operational briefings received, stating that they offered a clear and balanced understanding of OPHK’s achievements, the challenges it continues to navigate, and the measurable progress made in degrading terrorist capabilities.
Responding, the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, reaffirmed the Command’s mandate of facilitating the restoration of normalcy across the North East to allow socio-economic activities to thrive. He stated that OPHK remains committed to sustaining and intensifying stabilisation operations throughout the theatre to consolidate recent gains.
Major General Abubakar described the visit by the UK-based media organisation as a clear demonstration of increasing international attention on Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign. He assured the delegation of the Command’s full cooperation in facilitating their professional assignment and reiterated OPHK’s unwavering commitment to professionalism, transparency, and responsible engagement with the media.
The Theatre Commander further explained that OPHK has deliberately prioritised the protection of vulnerable communities through robust non-kinetic operations. He noted that these efforts have contributed significantly to the return of thousands of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes. According to him, improved security conditions across the theatre have also enabled the conduct of farm patrols to boost food security, while ensuring sustained protection for humanitarian agencies delivering essential services, including medical care, nutrition support, vaccinations, and immunisation programmes.
He added that the security situation in the North East has been largely contained, particularly through ongoing kinetic and stabilisation operations that have significantly degraded terrorist enclaves. Major General Abubakar also highlighted OPHK’s continued leverage of cooperation with international partners, including the British Military Advisory and Training Team, as part of a broader strategy to enhance operational effectiveness and capacity building.
The visit featured detailed operational briefings, the signing of the visitors’ register, presentation of souvenirs, and a group photograph, marking a significant milestone in fostering transparency and strengthening international media understanding of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations in the North East.
