By Our Reporter
The Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, and the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, have jointly undertaken an operational assessment visit to Sector 3 of OPHK in Baga, Borno State.
The high-level visit, held on Wednesday, was to appraise ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Lake Chad waterways and ensure effective utilisation of platforms and equipment deployed in the theatre.
This is contained in a statement by the Media Information Officer, OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, on Thursday in Maiduguri.
During the exercise, the commanders were briefed by the Commander, 403 Amphibious Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Agada, and the Commander, Naval Base Lake Chad, Commodore Peter Yilme, on strategies to secure the waterways, protect economic activities, and deny terrorists freedom of action.
Mutkut, in his remarks, called for close monitoring of troops’ performance and sustained vigilance, stressing that peace and stability in the Lake Chad Basin remained a shared responsibility of all member nations.
On his part, Abubakar commended the resilience of the troops and charged commanders to maintain maximum alertness, aggressive posture, and professionalism in tackling terrorist threats. He emphasised the need to provide security cover for farming and fishing activities, describing them as critical to livelihoods in the Lake Chad region.
“Troops must demonstrate the highest level of commitment in protecting the waterways to enhance farming and fishing, which remain central to the survival of local communities,” the Theatre Commander said.
He also tasked commanders to prioritise troops’ welfare, strengthen communication channels, and ensure judicious application of operational resources.
The joint visit was attended by Component and Formation Commanders, senior staff officers of the MNJTF and Headquarters Theatre Command, as well as the Commander, Sector 3 OPHK, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Tilawan.
Highlights included a tour of operational facilities, signing of the visitors’ book, exchange of souvenirs, and a group photograph.
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