Over 7,000 Displaced Families Return to Borno Communities — Army
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
More than 7,000 internally displaced families have returned to their ancestral communities across Borno State in the last one year, the outgoing Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has disclosed.
The commander made the disclosure on Monday during a farewell engagement with humanitarian partners, Borno State Government officials and journalists in Maiduguri.
He said the restoration of normalcy remained the primary mandate of Operation HADIN KAI, adding that the reopening of markets, schools and farmlands, as well as the return of displaced families to their ancestral homes, were key indicators of progress.
According to him, communities that had been abandoned for several years were gradually being reoccupied, with returnee communities recorded in every local government area of the state.
The outgoing commander, who is the 15th Theatre Commander of OPHK, also disclosed that more than 3,000 Nigerian refugees had been voluntarily repatriated from Cameroon in a safe and dignified manner.
He described the repatriation exercise as a model of cooperation between the Borno State Government, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
He said the return of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp to Maiduguri after more than 13 years, the conduct of WAEC and NECO examinations in Banki and Gwoza, and the reopening of trade routes and local markets were signs of improving normalcy in the state.
Troops neutralise 1,106 terrorists
On the operational achievements recorded during his tenure, the commander said troops neutralised 1,106 JAS/ISWAP terrorists between April 2025 and the period under review.
He listed some of the notable terrorists neutralised as Abu Bilal Al-Muniki, also known as Abu Mainok; Malam Jidda, Amir of Ngorgore and Malumti villages; Abu Modu; Modu Dogo; Munzir of Dogon Chukun; Abu Aisha, Qaid of Tumbun Mota; and Abul Kaka.
He said troops recovered 475 assorted weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, while 295 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were discovered and detonated.
The commander further disclosed that more than N300 million linked to terrorist financiers was intercepted, while 758 logistics collaborators were arrested.
He added that 969 JAS/ISWAP fighters and their family members surrendered during the period, attributing the development to sustained kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
He said 638 civilians were rescued from terrorist enclaves, including 46 students during an attempted abduction at the Federal Government Girls College, Monguno.
Theatre receives new operational capabilities
The outgoing commander said the theatre had been strengthened structurally and technically through the operationalisation of Sector 4, which was established to close the operational gap between southern Borno and northern Adamawa.
He said the induction of Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Regiment had enhanced the precision of air operations.
He added that the Military Command and Control Centre now links frontline surveillance cameras to improve situational awareness.
Commander commends Zulum, partners
The commander commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, General O.O. Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General W. Shuaibu, for their leadership and support.
He particularly appreciated Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for providing critical combat enablers, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, long-range surveillance cameras and drones.
He described the partnership between the Borno State Government and Operation HADIN KAI as exceptionally strong and urged the state government to extend similar support to his successor.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), other security agencies, hybrid forces and the wider humanitarian community.
The commander appealed for sustained humanitarian coordination and advised organisations requiring military escorts to submit requests 48 hours before movement to allow for proper planning.
He thanked journalists for maintaining fair and objective reportage, particularly while covering difficult locations such as Kareto and Ngoshe.
Ajose assumes duty as 16th Theatre Commander
The outgoing commander formally introduced Major General I.A. Ajose as the 16th Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI.
He described Maj.-Gen. Ajose as a seasoned infantry officer of the 43rd Regular Course with command experience at battalion, brigade and division levels.
According to him, the incoming commander had operational experience ranging from the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone to counter-terrorism operations in Nigeria.
He said Ajose had previously commanded 5 Brigade in Borno State and served as Chief of Staff, 4 Special Forces Command; Commander, 17 Brigade; Force Commander, Operation HADARIN DAJI; General Officer Commanding, 8 Division; and Commander, Sector 2, Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
He expressed confidence in his successor and urged stakeholders to extend the same cooperation and goodwill to the incoming theatre commander.
