The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), this week hosted high‑level delegations from key international humanitarian partners and regional stakeholders, underscoring renewed efforts to bolster civil–military cooperation, improve humanitarian access, and support regional economic stability.
In a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for OPHK, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UN DSS) delegation was led by Mrs Florence Paussin, Team Leader and Deputy Director, Department of Field Operations, from OPHK New York. Mrs Paussin’s visit aimed to deepen collaboration to ensure the safe delivery of assistance to vulnerable and hard‑to‑reach communities across the North East region.
Mrs Paussin commended OPHK for its professionalism and ongoing measures to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel. She said the delegation sought a clearer understanding of the prevailing security environment and to strengthen the partnership with OPHK, particularly around securing escorts that would enable UN teams to reach communities in need. She reaffirmed UN DSS’s commitment to supporting OPHK in fulfilling its mandate.
Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (North East), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, acknowledged the pivotal role of UN DSS in facilitating humanitarian operations. He emphasised that OPHK conducts both kinetic and non‑kinetic operations while maintaining humanitarian support as a key priority.
Major General Abubakar told the delegation that although the security situation had largely been contained, vigilance remained essential at all levels, and he assured UN DSS of sustained security support across the theatre.
In a separate engagement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation, led by Team Leader and Head of Operations Mr. Yanich Buvhili, called for continued collaboration to guarantee the safe delivery of humanitarian and medical services to internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups in Borno State.
Mr Buvhili praised OPHK’s assistance to ICRC activities, highlighting support for family reunification, healthcare delivery, immunisation, and nutrition programmes, and urged deeper cooperation to enhance operational effectiveness amid ongoing challenges.
Major General Abubakar described the ICRC as a dependable partner and commended its contributions to restoring normalcy and supporting livelihoods through humanitarian assistance.
He reiterated OPHK’s commitment to backing ICRC initiatives and noted that improved security conditions, bolstered by ongoing operations, have expanded humanitarian access across the state.
