Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Reaffirmed Armed Forces Commitment to a Comprehensive Counter-Insurgency strategy, as DHQ Leads Media Tour of Operation HADIN KAI to Assess Peace, Security in North East

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar has reaffirmed the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to a comprehensive counter-insurgency strategy, with strong emphasis on non-kinetic lines of operation.

He reaffirms the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment while receiving the delegation of senior defence correspondents and media professionals at the Theatre Headquarters in Maiduguri, for a three-day media tour.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), through the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO) conducted the high-level media assessment tour of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), as part of efforts to evaluate the durability of peace, security and development in stabilised areas of the North East.

The three-day visit which brought together senior defence correspondents and media professionals according to a press release e-signed by the SANI UBA Lieutenant Colonel, Media Information Officer Headquarters  Joint Task Force, (North East) Operation HADIN KAI is aimed to independently appraise ongoing military operations, civil-military engagements and post-conflict stabilisation efforts within the theatre.

Maj. Gen. Abubakar further  underscored the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede’s “strategic drive towards inclusive, people-centred operations,” noting that the CDS and the Service Chiefs “remain media-friendly and committed to strengthening strategic communication across all theatres.”

Highlighting the role of information in asymmetric warfare, Major General Abubakar urged the media to sustain “credible, balanced and responsible reportage capable of building public trust and national confidence,” adding that “timely dissemination of verified information remains critical in the evolving security environment confronting the nation.”

The Theatre Commander further briefed the team on “significant operational gains recorded across several communities,” stressing that sustained military pressure has led to “improved security, restoration of socio-economic activities, enhanced protection of vulnerable populations and safer operating space for humanitarian actors, including non-governmental organisations.”

Earlier, the team leader, Group Captain Ibrahim Bukar, commended the CDS for fostering “an enabling environment anchored on transparency, open-door policy and robust civil-military-media relations.” He described strategic communication as “a force multiplier and an essential component of modern military operations,” stressing that “national security is a collective responsibility that requires professional media engagement.”

Group Captain Bukar also applauded the troops of Operation HADIN KAI for their “resilience and sacrifices,” while expressing appreciation to the Theatre Commander for his “exemplary leadership, warm reception and the comprehensive operational briefing provided to the delegation.”

As part of the tour, the Defence Media Assessment Team visited key operational locations within the theatre, including the Joint Investigation Centre, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tunkushe and FOB Molai, where “first-hand assessments of ongoing activities were conducted.”

The visit culminated in the presentation of souvenirs and a group photograph, marking “another milestone in strengthening transparency, accountability and public confidence in the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”