By Nkechi Eze
The Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders as part of ongoing efforts to enhance security, humanitarian access and socio-economic recovery across the North East region.
According to a press statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the assurance was given by the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, during separate courtesy visits by the Conservator of Parks, Chad Basin National Park, CP Innocent Asuquo, and the Deputy Head of Office, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Nigeria, Ms Patricia Mucheche, at the Headquarters OPHK in Maiduguri, Borno State.
During his visit, CP Asuquo called for enhanced collaboration between the Chad Basin National Park and Operation HADIN KAI to improve security within national parks and forest reserves across the North East.
He observed that no single agency could effectively address the prevailing security challenges, stressing the need for sustained inter-agency cooperation to prevent terrorists and other criminal elements from exploiting forest reserves and protected areas as safe havens.
The Conservator commended the troops of Operation HADIN KAI for their resilience, sacrifices and unwavering commitment to restoring peace and security in the region, noting that the partnership between both institutions would further strengthen efforts to secure forested and ungoverned spaces.
Responding, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar expressed appreciation for the visit and reiterated OPHK’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the Chad Basin National Park and other strategic stakeholders.
The Theatre Commander noted that the evolving security environment requires stronger partnerships, particularly in addressing threats emanating from remote forest areas often exploited by criminal groups.
He highlighted the critical role of park services and forest guards in biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and community development, urging effective management and monitoring of park facilities to support tourism and deny criminal elements freedom of movement and operation.
Major General Abubakar also assured the Conservator of continued support, including capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness of park personnel.
In a related development, the Deputy Head of Office of UN OCHA Nigeria, Ms Patricia Mucheche, sought deeper collaboration with Operation HADIN KAI to improve humanitarian service delivery to vulnerable populations affected by the conflict in the North East.
Ms Mucheche commended the military for its continued support in facilitating humanitarian access to affected communities, describing the partnership as critical to reaching populations in need of assistance.
She appealed for increased access to vulnerable groups to enable more effective and dignified humanitarian interventions and also advocated additional support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), particularly during ongoing resettlement efforts and the approaching rainy season.
In his response, the Theatre Commander praised UN OCHA for its sustained humanitarian interventions across the North East and described the organisation as a dependable partner in the non-kinetic operations of Operation HADIN KAI.
Major General Abubakar acknowledged UN OCHA’s contributions in areas including food distribution, nutrition support, prevention of gender-based violence, emergency response, disaster management and family reunification programmes.
He noted that the collaboration between the military and humanitarian actors had significantly improved the welfare of vulnerable populations, particularly 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 maintaining a secure and enabling environment for humanitarian operations, stressing that troops would continue sustained patrols and counter-improvised explosive device operations to ensure safer access routes for aid workers and beneficiaries.
He further assured humanitarian partners that Operation HADIN KAI would continue to create and maintain secure zones for vulnerable populations across the theatre of operations.
Highlights of the visits included 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 of Headquarters Theatre Command; and other senior military officers.
