The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, made an operational visit to the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, in Maiduguri on Tuesday. His visit was joined by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mattawalle; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal, Hassan Abubakar, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.
During the visit, Mr Abubakar conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s assignment for the high-level delegation to assess the security situation in the combat zone. He affirmed the President’s charge to engage with the Governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum, and the officers on the frontline to gain insights and discuss further support for their operations.
“We had candid discussions with Gov. Zulum and our officers. President Tinubu is determined to see an end to the insecurity. He has shared strategies with the CDS and Service Chiefs, and together they have agreed on the next line of action,” Mr Abubakar said, expressing confidence in bringing an end to the menace.
The minister reaffirmed the President’s commitment to support the military and security agencies in bringing an end to insurgency, restoring peace, and facilitating the sustainable resettlement of displaced persons.
“From here, we will visit our troops to appreciate their sacrifices, hear their challenges, and work towards resolving them,” Mr Abubakar added.
Commending Governor Zulum for his support, Mr Abubakar said, “We appreciate all the support; sometimes you risk your life in supporting and giving courage to our personnel in the frontline”.
In response, Governor Zulum commended the service chiefs for their commitment to achieving lasting peace in the State. He noted the tremendous improvement in the security situation due to the troops’ successes and cautioned against sensational security reportage, which the insurgents exploit to bolster their diminishing capacity.
“I have been to various parts of the state, and reports indicate that peace has returned. The sustained military operations are crucial in degrading the insurgents’ presence,” the governor emphasized.
Zulum urged the military to continue their efforts to eradicate the remaining terrorists and sought their support in manpower development to curb transborder small arms and light weapons proliferation.
He stressed the importance of the northeast’s security due to its porous borders and highlighted the need to prevent the region from becoming a safe haven for ISWAP, considering the challenges in the Sahel.
It was also revealed that approximately 160,000 insurgent fighters and their family members surrendered due to the military’s non-kinetic approach.
The governor’s plea for sustained military operations and support underscores the critical need to root out insurgency in the region, ensuring stability within the country and beyond.
NAN
