BY: MUSA IDRIS UMAR, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026/ 08:51PM
More than 7,000 displaced families have returned to their ancestral communities across Borno State during the tenure of the outgoing Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai.
The commander, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar disclosed this while reflecting on his tenure during a farewell and introduction meeting with humanitarian partners, Borno State Government officials and journalists.
He said the returns were part of Operation Hadin Kai’s mandate to restore normalcy in the Northeast and allow social and economic activities to resume.
According to him, communities that had been abandoned for years have been reoccupied, with returned communities now present in every local government area of Borno State.
He also said more than 3,000 Nigerians had been voluntarily repatriated from Cameroon through a joint effort involving the Borno State Government, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The commander said the return of the National Youth Service Corps orientation program to Maiduguri after more than 13 years was another sign of improved conditions.
He added that WAEC and NECO examinations were now being held in communities such as Banki and Gwoza, while trade routes had reopened and local markets had resumed operations.
On military operations, the commander said troops had neutralized more than 1,106 JAS and ISWAP fighters during his tenure, including several senior commanders.
He said troops also recovered more than 475 weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
He said at least 295 improvised explosive devices were discovered and destroyed from April 2025 to date.
The commander added that more than N300 million linked to terrorist financiers had been intercepted and at least 758 suspected terrorist logistics collaborators arrested.
He said 969 JAS and ISWAP fighters and their families had surrendered during the past year following military operations and efforts to provide an alternative to continued fighting.
The commander said 638 civilians had also been rescued from terrorist enclaves.
He added that troops rescued all 46 students during an attempted abduction at the Federal Government Girls College in Monguno.
He said Operation Hadin Kai had also been strengthened through the activation of Sector 4 to improve coverage between southern Borno and northern Adamawa.
The commander said the Nigerian Army had introduced aviation helicopters and a remotely piloted aircraft system regiment to support operations.
He added that a Military Command and Control Centre had been linked to surveillance cameras at frontline locations to improve situational awareness.
Ajose takes over
The outgoing commander introduced Maj. Gen. IA Ajose as the 16th Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai.
He said Ajose, an infantry officer of the 43rd Regular Course, had commanded at the battalion, brigade and division levels.
Ajose has also served with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone and in counterterrorism operations in Nigeria.
The outgoing commander said Ajose was familiar with the Northeast, having previously commanded 5 Brigade in Borno State.
He later served as Chief of Staff at 4 Special Forces Command, Commander of 17 Brigade, Force Commander of Operation Hadarin Daji, General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Northwest, Operation Fansan Yamma.
The outgoing commander expressed confidence in Ajose and urged government officials, humanitarian organizations, security agencies and journalists to support him.
He also thanked the Borno State Government and other partners for their support during his tenure.
He said cooperation with the state government had provided equipment and other support to Operation Hadin Kai.
He urged stakeholders to maintain the partnership as Ajose takes over.
The outgoing commander also thanked journalists covering the conflict and urged them to continue reporting on the theater fairly and professionally.