Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have neutralised more than 1,106 members of the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (JAS/ISWAP), recovered 475 assorted weapons and interception of over N300 million linked to terrorist financiers during the tenure of Abdulsalam Abubakar as Theatre Commander.
Abubakar disclosed this on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ engagement and media parley in Maiduguri, held as part of activities marking the end of his tenure as the 15th Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (North East).
The engagement preceded the formal handing and taking over ceremony at the Headquarters Theatre Command, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, where Ibikunle Ajose assumed command as the 16th Theatre Commander.
According to Abubakar, the mandate given to OPHK when he assumed command was to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the North-East and create an enabling environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.
He said the Theatre’s operations had contributed to the return of more than 7,000 displaced families to their ancestral communities, while previously abandoned communities had been reoccupied across all Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Abubakar also said the Theatre supported initiatives that had enabled the gradual restoration of civilian activities and public institutions across communities previously affected by terrorism.
He cited the voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of more than 3,000 Nigerians from Cameroon, the return of the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Scheme to Maiduguri after more than 13 years, and the conduct of WAEC and NECO examinations in communities including Banki and Gwoza.
He also noted the reopening of trade routes and local markets, describing these developments as indications of improving security conditions in parts of the North-East.
On the operational front, Abubakar said troops neutralised more than 1,106 JAS/ISWAP terrorists, including some of the groups’ notable commanders, while recovering more than 475 assorted weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.
He said troops also discovered and detonated at least 295 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), thereby preventing potential attacks on troops and civilians.
The former Theatre Commander disclosed that more than N300 million allegedly linked to terrorist financiers was intercepted during the period, while 758 suspected terrorist logistics collaborators were arrested.
He further said sustained kinetic operations, combined with non-kinetic measures, had led to the surrender of more than 969 JAS/ISWAP fighters and their family members within the past year.
According to him, 638 civilians were also rescued from terrorist enclaves during the period under review.
Abubakar attributed the gains to sustained military pressure, improved intelligence, enhanced surveillance and cooperation among the military, other security agencies, state authorities, community actors and humanitarian organisations.
‘The Theatre had also undergone operational strengthening through the activation of Sector 4, the induction of Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Regiment’, he said.
He added that the enhancement of the Military Command and Control Centre had improved frontline surveillance, coordination and situational awareness.
The outgoing commander said the progress recorded was not the achievement of a single individual but the product of the courage, resilience and sacrifices of troops, as well as the support of stakeholders.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff, Waidi Shuaibu, Chief of Army Staff, and the Borno State Government led by Babagana Zulum.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, International Committee of the Red Cross, British Defence Staff West Africa, other security agencies, Hybrid Forces, humanitarian partners and the media.
Speaking at the engagement, Zulum, who was represented by Usman Tar, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, commended Abubakar for what he described as responsive and decisive leadership during his tenure.
Zulum particularly highlighted the outgoing commander’s response to actionable intelligence, as well as improvements in intelligence gathering, civil-military relations and personnel welfare.
The Governor described the remaining terrorists as a residue of what had previously been a formidable adversary, while commending the military leadership for sustaining pressure against terrorist groups.
He also identified the establishment of a command-and-control centre linking formations and units across the Theatre as one of the initiatives that contributed to improved operational coordination.
At the formal change-of-command ceremony, Abubakar charged troops to maintain professionalism, discipline and dedication in the discharge of their duties.
He urged personnel to honour colleagues who had paid the supreme sacrifice by sustaining the campaign against terrorism.
The outgoing commander also appealed to troops and other stakeholders to extend to Ajose the cooperation and loyalty they accorded him during his tenure.
He described his successor as a battle-tested infantry general whose operational experience would be valuable in consolidating the gains recorded by the Theatre.
Taking over as the 16th Theatre Commander, Ajose said the mandate of Operation HADIN KAI remained unchanged, to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the North-East and create an environment where socio-economic activities could flourish.
He commended Abubakar for the progress recorded under his leadership and pledged to consolidate the gains made in the Theatre.
Ajose said he was familiar with the operational environment, having previously served as Commander, 5 Brigade, and Chief of Staff, Force Special Forces Command, in Borno State.
He said his knowledge of the terrain and operational experience would be brought to bear on efforts to further degrade terrorist groups and ultimately bring terrorism in the North-East to an end.
The new Theatre Commander also pledged to sustain existing relationships with the Borno State Government, humanitarian organisations, Hybrid Forces, the Civilian Joint Task Force, the media and other critical stakeholders.
The change-of-command ceremony featured the signing of handing and taking-over notes, an address to troops, quarter guard, lowering and hoisting of the Regimental Colours, presentation of awards and souvenirs, and a group photograph.
Before his departure, Abubakar paid tribute to fallen military personnel at the Maimalari Cantonment Military Cemetery, where he laid a wreath in honour of officers and soldiers who died in the line of duty defending the country.