By Bavoriat Clara
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command (TAC), Air Vice Marshal Michael Ekwueme, on Friday, 30 January 2026, paid an operational visit to the Theatre Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), at the Maimalari Military Cantonment, Maiduguri. He was received by the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the visit was aimed at assessing ongoing operations and reinforcing inter-service collaboration in the fight against insurgency in the North East.
During the visit, Air Vice Marshal Ekwueme commended troops of Operation HADIN KAI for their resilience, discipline, selflessness and courage in the face of sustained operational challenges. He assured the Theatre Commander of continued and enhanced air support, including the deployment of additional air platforms to address operational gaps and consolidate gains already recorded in the theatre.
“I assure you of maximum support and the deployment of more air platforms to strengthen your operations. We remain hopeful that these efforts will hasten the restoration of peace and a return to full normalcy in the North East,” the AOC TAC stated.
In his response, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, expressed appreciation for the visit and noted that despite the increasing complexity of operations, timely and effective air support has remained a decisive factor in the successful execution of missions across the theatre.
He further underscored the importance of efficient ground-to-air communication, adding that improved transition capabilities and sustained in-theatre training of personnel across sectors have significantly enhanced joint operational effectiveness.
The visit featured operational briefings at the Theatre Headquarters, exchange of souvenirs, signing of the visitors’ book, group photographs, and a guided tour of the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
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