By Nkechi Eze
The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), on Tuesday hosted a series of high-level visits by key international humanitarian partners and regional stakeholders, in a development that underscores strengthened civil–military cooperation, improved humanitarian access and sustained efforts toward security, peace and economic stability in Borno State and the wider North East region.
In an official signed statement, Media Information Officer Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed that leading the engagements was the Team Leader and Deputy Director, Department of Field Operations, United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UN DSS), Mrs Florence Paussin, who visited OPHK from New York to deepen collaboration aimed at safely delivering humanitarian assistance to vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities across the North East.
According to the statement, Mrs Paussin commended OPHK for its professionalism and ongoing efforts to safeguard civilians and humanitarian workers, describing the military’s role as central to the success of humanitarian operations in the theatre. She explained that the purpose of the visit was to better understand the prevailing security environment and to strengthen partnership with OPHK, particularly in securing escorts that would enable United Nations personnel to access communities in need. She further reaffirmed UN DSS’ commitment to supporting OPHK in achieving its mandate.
Responding, the Theatre Commander Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the critical role UN DSS plays in facilitating humanitarian operations across the region. He noted that OPHK conducts both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, with humanitarian support remaining a key priority. The Theatre Commander briefed the delegation on the operational situation, adding that while the security environment has largely been contained, vigilance remains essential at all levels. He assured UN DSS of sustained security support for its operations throughout the theatre.
In a similar engagement, the Team Leader and Head of Operations, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr Yanich Buvhili, led a delegation to OPHK, calling for continued collaboration to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian and medical services to internally displaced persons and vulnerable communities in Borno State.
Mr Buvhili praised OPHK for its consistent support to ICRC operations, particularly in enabling access for family reunification, healthcare delivery, immunisation and nutrition programmes. He sought deeper collaboration to further enhance operational effectiveness amid prevailing challenges.
Major General Abubakar, in his response, described the ICRC as a dependable partner and commended its contributions to restoring normalcy and supporting livelihoods through humanitarian assistance. He reaffirmed OPHK’s commitment to supporting ICRC activities, noting that improved security conditions bolstered by ongoing operations have enhanced humanitarian access across the state.
The statement added that all the visits featured the signing of visitors’ registers, presentation of souvenirs and group photographs. Present at the engagements were the Deputy Theatre Commander OPHK, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, alongside senior staff officers and personnel of Operation HADIN KAI.
The engagements, according to OPHK, further demonstrate its people-centred operational approach and its resolve to work closely with humanitarian partners in consolidating peace, security and socio-economic recovery in the North East.
