***As Theatre Commander Reaffirms Operational Mandate
By Miriam Humbe
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has reaffirmed the operational mandate of Operation HADIN KAI to restore normalcy across the North East and create an enabling environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.
Captain Mohammed Goni, the Acting Military Information Officer
Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, disclosed this in a statement signed on Tuesday.
Major Gen Abubakar said this while receiving the Bureau Chief of African Voices and Team Leader of the Italian Radio Television, Mr Valerio Cataldi, and members of his delegation during a courtesy visit to Headquarters Operation HADIN KAI on 28 July 2026.
The Theatre Commander appreciated the visit and assured the delegation of OPHK’s commitment to supporting professional and objective media coverage of the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
Major General Abubakar underscored the vital role of the media in strategic communications, particularly in countering misinformation and projecting factual narratives on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He highlighted the significant gains recorded through the integration of kinetic and non-kinetic operations, intelligence-driven missions, and sustained disruption of terrorist logistics networks.
According to him, these efforts have enhanced the protection of vulnerable communities, facilitated the return of thousands of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes, improved security for farming activities, led to the recovery of arms and other combat enablers, and compelled the surrender of several terrorist commanders, fighters, and logistics collaborators.
Furthermore, the Theatre Commander stated that Operation HADIN KAI conducts its operations in strict compliance with International Humanitarian Law and the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s Rules of Engagement, ensuring precision in operations with civilian harm mitigation as the priority focus for engagements.
He acknowledged the persistent threat posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and the emerging use of armed drones by terrorist groups due to foreign influence but emphasised that the security situation across the North East has significantly improved through enhanced operational capabilities, specialised training, technological innovation, and sustained collaboration with strategic partners.
Earlier, Mr Valerio Cataldi expressed appreciation to the Theatre Commander for the warm reception and comprehensive operational briefing.
He stated that the purpose of the visit was to present an objective account of the sacrifices, resilience, and achievements of Operation HADIN KAI in the fight against terrorism while showcasing the realities of the conflict to international audiences.
He described the briefing as insightful and noted that the delegation would focus on human-interest stories, the impact of terrorism and asymmetric warfare, and the progress being recorded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria through engagements with troops, affected communities, and surrendered former terrorists.
The visit also featured a comprehensive operational briefing on the activities, achievements, peacebuilding efforts, and current operational environment of Operation HADIN KAI, providing the delegation with deeper insight into the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency campaign.
The programme concluded with an interactive session, the signing of the visitors’ register, the presentation of souvenirs, and a group photograph.
