OPHK Commander Stresses The Efficacy Of Collaboration As He Deepens Ties With ICRC, MSF
In a region where humanitarian needs remain urgent and complex, military-humanitarian cooperation continues to shape the pace of recovery.
This reality came into sharper focus as the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening partnerships with aid organisations working across the North East.
The Commander made the pledge while receiving delegations from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Spain at the OPHK Headquarters in Maiduguri.
Welcoming the ICRC team led by Diana Japaridze, Abubakar praised the organisation’s unwavering support to conflict-affected communities, noting that its interventions in protection, victim support, capacity building, and essential services remain vital to restoring stability.
“We will continue to sustain and deepen the cordial relationship between the Theatre Command and the ICRC, and explore more opportunities for cooperation,” he said.
Ms Japaridze, in her remarks, expressed appreciation for the sustained collaboration and reiterated the ICRC’s dedication to assisting vulnerable, displaced, and separated persons.
In a separate engagement, the Theatre Commander hosted MSF Spain’s Coordinator, Mr Omer Sarikaya, who highlighted the organisation’s emergency medical services delivered in partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Health and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
He said MSF’s programmes in maternal health, infection control, cholera response, nutrition, and sanitation continue to rely on close cooperation with the military to overcome access and logistical barriers.
Major General Abubakar commended MSF’s life-saving interventions, describing the organisation as a dependable partner in the push for stabilisation and recovery.
“Our mandate in Operation HADIN KAI is to restore normalcy and enable socio-economic activities to thrive. This mission is only achievable through strong collaboration with humanitarian actors such as MSF,” he said, assuring the organisation of continued support.
Both visits were attended by Component Commanders, Principal Staff Officers, and senior officers of OPHK, underscoring the growing synergy driving counterterrorism efforts, humanitarian response, and long-term peacebuilding across the North East.
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