To further his drive for wholeness in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East zone of Nigeria, the Theatre Commander (TC), Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Christopher Musa has met severally with critical stakeholders in his Area of Responsibility (AOR).
Recently, he led his Principal Officers to meet with members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Borno State to seek cooperation and partnership with them.
Security Watch Africa (SWA), gathered that members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Vigilante Association, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Council of Ulamas and Imams and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) were at the Headquarters Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno State, separately to interact with the OPHK.
In a release by Col. Ado Isa, Deputy Director Public Relations, 7 Division Nigerian Army/Joint Task Force, (North East) and Operation HADIN KAI OPHK, he said that the round-table interactive meetings are aimed at winning the hearts and minds of host communities in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency in the region.
The release quotes, “TC informed the meetings that sequel to the change of name from Operation LAFIYA DOLE to Operation HADIN KAI, the Theatre is highly committed to ensuring that all stakeholders involved in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations against the terrorists, insurgents and criminal elements will now work in synergy with one another to form a formidable front that will finally defeat and bring to a decisive end all forms of terrorism and criminal activities”.
Col. Isa stated, “Speaking during the round-table discussions the leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Mr Lawal Jafar pledged the unalloyed support of his members to OPHK. Mr Lawal assured that the CJTF will not relent in its partnership with military to fight terrorists in any part of the North East”.
The OPHK spokesperson continues, “In the same vein, the leader of the Vigilante Association, Mohammed TAR Yerwa was optimistic that the Vigilante group under his watch will take advantage of its spread and reach in all the twenty-four local government areas of Borno State to launch attacks on ISWAP and BHTs.
“Similarly, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno State, Bishop Naga Mohammed and his counterpart, the Chairman of the Council of Ulamas and Imams, Chief Imam Laisu Ibrahim promised that they will continue to pray and commit OPHK to the Almighty God. The Spiritual Fathers reiterated that they will not relent in seeking the mercy of God Almighty to bring to a speedy end to the war which has lingered for too long with attendant huge loss of human and material resources”.
The release added, “During the round-table discussion, the Coordinator, Zone C of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Suleiman Muhammad Sarki stated that members of NANS Zone C which is made of North East, North Central and Federal Capital Territory Abuja are constantly holding rallies, campaigns and seminars to sensitize and galvanize its members to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria to win the war and bring peace and tranquility to all troubled communities in the North East and beyond”.
It will be recalled that the Theatre Commander (TC), Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Christopher Musa had earlier hosted members of local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the North East at a maiden interactive session to chart a new course to enhance Civil-Military Cooperation.
At the meeting, Gen. Musa urged the NGOs to operate within the ambit of the security rules and guidelines of Military operations in line with international humanitarian procedures and global best practices.