The Conservator of Parks, Chad Basin National Park, CP Innocent Asuquo, has called for enhanced collaboration with the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) to strengthen security within national parks and forest reserves across the North East region.
A statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba media information officer HQ joint task force north east operation hadin Kai said CP Asuquo made the call during a courtesy visit to the Theatre Commander OPHK, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, at the Headquarters OPHK in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He noted that no single agency can effectively tackle the prevailing security challenges, stressing the need for sustained inter-agency synergy to prevent terrorists and criminal elements from exploiting parks and forest areas as safe havens. He commended OPHK for its resilience, sacrifices, and commitment to restoring security, peace and enabling socio-economic activities in the region, expressing optimism that the visit would further strengthen existing collaboration.
In his remarks, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, appreciated the visit and reaffirmed OPHK’s utmost commitment to strengthening partnerships with the Chad Basin National Park and other critical stakeholders. He emphasised that the evolving security landscape requires stronger collaboration, particularly in addressing threats within ungoverned forest spaces.
He highlighted the important role of park services and forest guards in biodiversity management, environmental security, and community development, urging effective utilisation and monitoring of park areas to promote tourism while denying criminal elements freedom of action. The Theatre Commander further assured the Conservator of continued support, including capacity building, to enhance operational effectiveness.
In a related development, the Deputy Head of Office, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Nigeria, Ms Patricia Mucheche, has also sought deeper collaboration with OPHK to enhance humanitarian service delivery to vulnerable populations in the North East. Ms Mucheche made this known during her courtesy visit to the Theatre Commander at Headquarters OPHK.
She appreciated the military for its continued support in facilitating humanitarian access, noting that the partnership has been instrumental in reaching affected communities. She requested for increased access to vulnerable populations to enable more effective and dignified delivery of humanitarian services, while also advocating for additional force for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) especially during resettlement efforts and the approaching rainy season.
Responding, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar commended UN OCHA for its sustained humanitarian interventions and described the organisation as a dependable partner in OPHK’s non-kinetic operations. He highlighted UN OCHA’s contributions in food distribution, nutrition support, prevention of gender-based violence, emergency response, disaster management, and family reunification efforts. The Theatre Commander noted that the collaboration has significantly impacted vulnerable populations, particularly through resettlement initiatives that have enabled displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes and resume livelihoods.
He reaffirmed OPHK’s commitment to providing a secure and enabling environment for humanitarian operations, including sustained patrols and counter-IED efforts to make routes safer. He assured that OPHK would continue to create safe and protected zones for vulnerable populations. The visits featured the signing of the visitors’ register, exchange of souvenirs, and group photographs. Present at both engagements were the Deputy Theatre Commander, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, the Chief of Staff Headquarters OPHK, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed, Component Commanders, Principal Staff Officers of Headquarters Theatre Command and other senior staff officers.
