🇳🇬 OPHK deepens humanitarian, security partnerships with UN DSS and ICRC, assures stability in North East

 

The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has reinforced its civil–military and humanitarian coordination framework following high-level engagements with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UN DSS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), signalling strengthened guarantees for humanitarian access, civilian protection, and regional stability across the North East.

Desk: Defence & Security
Date: Thursday, 5 February 2026
Time: 11:40 WAT
Location: Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

The engagements, held at the Headquarters of OPHK in Maiduguri, brought together senior international humanitarian officials and theatre-level military leadership, underscoring a shared commitment to securing humanitarian corridors, sustaining non-kinetic operations, and stabilising communities emerging from prolonged conflict.

Leading the UN DSS delegation was the Team Leader and Deputy Director, Department of Field Operations, Mrs Florence Paussin, who arrived from New York as part of efforts to deepen operational collaboration with OPHK. Her visit focused on aligning security assessments, escort coordination, and risk mitigation strategies to enable safe humanitarian access to hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations across the theatre.

“This visit is to better understand the prevailing security environment and to strengthen our partnership with Operation HADIN KAI, particularly in securing escorts that will enable UN personnel to reach communities in need safely,” Mrs Paussin stated.

She commended OPHK for its professionalism and sustained efforts to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, reaffirming the UN DSS’ commitment to supporting the Joint Task Force in the delivery of life-saving assistance across the region.

Responding, the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, described humanitarian support as a core pillar of OPHK’s operational mandate alongside kinetic engagements. He noted that sustained military pressure has significantly improved the security landscape, while cautioning that vigilance remains essential.

“Operation HADIN KAI conducts both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, with humanitarian support remaining a key priority. While the security situation has largely been contained, vigilance at all levels remains essential,” Major General Abubakar assured.

He further guaranteed continued security support for UN DSS operations, emphasising OPHK’s readiness to facilitate humanitarian movements across the theatre.

In a separate engagement, the Team Leader and Head of Operations, International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr Yanich Buvhili, led an ICRC delegation to OPHK, calling for sustained collaboration to ensure uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian and medical services to internally displaced persons and conflict-affected communities in Borno State.

Mr Buvhili commended OPHK for its consistent support to ICRC activities, particularly in facilitating family reunification, healthcare delivery, immunisation campaigns, and nutrition programmes, while advocating deeper coordination to address evolving operational challenges.

Major General Abubakar described the ICRC as a dependable and long-standing partner, acknowledging its contributions to restoring livelihoods and improving humanitarian outcomes across the state. He noted that improved security conditions, driven by ongoing OPHK operations, have significantly expanded humanitarian access and operational reach.

“Enhanced security conditions have allowed humanitarian partners greater access, and OPHK remains committed to supporting ICRC activities as part of broader efforts to restore normalcy and economic stability,” the Theatre Commander stated.

All engagements featured the signing of visitors’ registers, exchange of souvenirs, and group photographs. Also present were the Deputy Theatre Commander OPHK, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, alongside senior staff officers and personnel of Operation HADIN KAI.

FACT-CHECK & BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Operation HADIN KAI is the Nigerian Armed Forces’ joint counter-insurgency framework in the North East, integrating kinetic operations with stabilisation, humanitarian coordination, and civil–military engagement. 

UN DSS and ICRC remain critical partners in securing humanitarian access and safeguarding civilians in conflict-affected environments.

🏷 Tags: defence policy, Nigeria, Operation HADIN KAI, humanitarian coordination, civil–military relations, regional security

#OPHK #NorthEastNigeria #HumanitarianAccess #CivilMilitaryCoordination #SecurityStabilisation

 

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