BY FAIZA JIBRIN, AUGUST 01, 2025 | 10:04 AM
In a bid to strengthen military-civilian ties, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in collaboration with the British Defence Staff and Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), recently concluded a free medical outreach in Maiduguri.
The event was part of the ongoing four-day Human Security and Civil-Military Relations Workshop.
The medical outreach, held on Thursday at Immaculate Secondary School, Baga Road, provided hundreds of residents, particularly women, children, and the elderly, with access to essential medications.
The Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole explained that the initiative was directed by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, as part of the military's commitment to building peace beyond combat operations.
'This medical outreach is part of what we call CIMIC—Civil-Military Cooperation. It’s our way of giving back to the communities we serve, without the people, we wouldn’t be here.
'Health is wealth, and it’s only when the people are healthy that we can build lasting peace together,' he said.
The medical team provided services including general consultations, dental care, eye treatment, and referrals for advanced treatment at the military hospital.
'We came fully prepared. Cases that cannot be treated here will be referred and followed up at the hospital,' Bankole added.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the gesture, with one resident, Hafsat Bukar Shugaba, praising the dental care she received.
'I’m very happy. The dentist cleaned my teeth and gave me the drugs I needed. I pray everyone else also got the help they came for,' she said.
Another beneficiary, Bukar Muhammad, lauded the Nigerian Army for providing quality medical services and caring for the health of ordinary citizens.
The outreach was part of a broader workshop on Human Security and Civil-Military Relations, which emphasized the need to integrate non-kinetic strategies into military operations.
The aim is to reduce harm to civilians, rebuild trust, and ensure sustainable peace.
The initiative reflects the evolving role of the Nigerian military as a key player in national development and humanitarian response.
As the workshop concluded, participants were urged to apply its lessons to future operations, ensuring that security is accompanied by empathy, trust, and the protection of human dignity.