By Bavoriat Clara
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has reiterated the Theatre Command’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with humanitarian organisations operating in the North East.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Theatre Commander gave the assurance on Thursday, 13 November 2025, during separate courtesy visits by delegations from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Spain at the Headquarters Theatre Command in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Receiving the ICRC delegation led by the Head of Sub-delegation in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, Major General Abubakar commended the organisation for its sustained humanitarian assistance to victims of armed conflict. He highlighted the ICRC’s contributions in capacity building, victim support and emergency relief, assuring that OPHK would continue to deepen its partnership with the organisation.
Earlier, Japaridze appreciated the openness and cooperation of the Theatre Command, noting that the visit was part of efforts to assess the security situation and reaffirm the ICRC’s continued presence in the region. She explained that the organisation remains committed to providing humanitarian aid and facilitating family reunification for conflict-affected persons. The ICRC team included Deputy Protection Coordinator, Mr Kouame Noel, and the Armed Forces and Security Adviser, Lieutenant Colonel Babatunde Lawal (Rtd).
In a separate engagement, the Theatre Commander also hosted the Coordinator of MSF Spain, Mr Omer Sarikaya, and his team. Sarikaya expressed gratitude for the sustained cooperation of the Theatre Command, noting MSF’s ongoing emergency medical interventions carried out in partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Health and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
He outlined the organisation’s efforts in maternal healthcare, infection prevention, cholera management, nutrition support and sanitation, while emphasising the operational challenges posed by insecurity and restricted humanitarian access. He stressed the need for continued military support to ensure effective service delivery.
Responding, Major General Abubakar praised MSF’s life-saving interventions and described the organisation as a dependable partner in ongoing stabilization efforts across the North East. He reaffirmed OPHK’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for humanitarian agencies to deliver critical services.
The visits were attended by Component Commanders, Principal Staff Officers, and other senior officers of Headquarters OPHK. Activities featured interactive sessions, signing of the visitors’ book, exchange of souvenirs, and group photographs, underscoring the importance of civil–military cooperation in ongoing counterterrorism and stabilization operations in the region.
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