The Project Manager, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), Abuja, Mr Chrisantus Lapang, has pledged the organisation’s commitment to strengthening partnership with the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), through capacity building and enhanced humanitarian processes aimed at promoting sustainable peace in conflict-affected communities across the North East. Mr Lapang stated this on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, when he led a delegation from the Centre on a courtesy visit to Headquarters Theatre Command OPHK in Maiduguri.
A statement signed by Captain Mohammed Goni Acting military information officer HQ JTF north east operation hadin Kai said he said the Centre was willing and ready to partner with OPHK in building the capacity of military personnel required to support the restoration of peace to the region.
Mr Lapang explained that the purpose of the visit was to identify areas of mutual interest, assess capacity needs within the North East and explore practical areas of partnership with OPHK towards strengthening conflict-resolution mechanisms.
Responding, the Theatre Commander OPHK, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, warmly welcomed Mr Lapang and the Senior Coordinator, Professor Abubakar Monguno, to Headquarters OPHK. He described the visit as significant, noting that capacity building from the Centre would further enhance the restoration of peace and return of socio economic activities to the North-East in line with the mandate of OPHK.The Theatre Commander expressed optimism that OPHK would benefit from the expertise of the Centre and reaffirmed the Theatre Command’s commitment to partnering with the organisation, particularly in training and capacity building, through the identification of specific skills required by personnel to enhance their capacity.
Major General Abubakar further highlighted the strategic importance of Civil-Military Cooperation, as well as sustained engagement with religious and traditional leaders, in the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism campaign. He noted that these non-kinetic efforts have contributed significantly to strengthening community trust, improving public confidence and countering narratives that encourage support for terrorist activities in the region. He stated that OPHK’s non-kinetic operations constitute a significant component of its overall campaign strategy and have yielded positive results in the stabilisation of affected communities, including supporting the resettlement of thousands of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities and facilitating the return of vulnerable populations to their farms and other sources of livelihood.
The Theatre Commander explained that OPHK’s non-kinetic initiatives, including community engagement and sensitisation, have complemented kinetic operations and contributed to the disruption of terrorist logistics and recovery of arms, ammunition and other combat-enabling materials. He added that the efforts have also contributed to encouraging terrorists and their associates to abandon violence and surrender. He stressed that OPHK continues to conduct its operations in accordance with the Rules of Engagement and applicable International Humanitarian Law, with particular emphasis on Civilian Harm Mitigation.
The Theatre Commander reaffirmed the commitment of Operation HADIN KAI to sustained collaboration with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in advancing humanitarian interventions, peace mediation and conflict-resolution initiatives that support the restoration of lasting peace and stability in the North East. Present at the engagement were the Deputy Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa; Component Commanders; and other senior officers of the Theatre Command. Highpoints of the visit included the robust interactive engagement as well as the signing of the visitors’ register, presentation of souvenirs and a group photograph.
