Major General Ibikunle Ajose has assumed command of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, succeeding Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, who handed over on 15 September 2026.
The formal handing and taking-over ceremony took place at the Headquarters of Theatre Command, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, with Ajose becoming the 16th Theatre Commander after Abubakar served as the 15th.
The transition followed a stakeholders’ engagement and media parley hosted by Abubakar, where he reviewed the Theatre’s mandate and operational activities during his tenure.
Abubakar said Operation HADIN KAI was tasked with facilitating the restoration of normalcy in the North East and creating conditions for socio-economic activities to continue.
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He said the Theatre’s activities contributed to the return of more than 7,000 displaced families to their ancestral communities and the reoccupation of previously abandoned communities across all Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The former Theatre Commander also cited the voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of more than 3,000 Nigerians from Cameroon, the return of the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Scheme to Maiduguri after more than 13 years, and the conduct of WAEC and NECO examinations in communities including Banki and Gwoza.
He added that trade routes and local markets had also reopened in some areas.
On military operations, Abubakar said troops neutralised more than 1,106 JAS/ISWAP terrorists, recovered more than 475 assorted weapons and 24,409 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, and discovered and detonated at least 295 Improvised Explosive Devices.
He said more than ₦300 million linked to terrorist financiers was intercepted, while at least 758 suspected terrorist logistics collaborators were arrested.
According to him, sustained military operations and other measures also contributed to the surrender of more than 969 JAS/ISWAP fighters and their family members during the period, while 638 civilians were rescued from terrorist enclaves.
The Theatre’s operational capabilities were also expanded during the period through the operationalisation of Sector 4, the induction of Nigerian Army Aviation helicopters and the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Regiment.
Abubakar said improvements were also made to the Military Command and Control Centre to support frontline surveillance and situational awareness.
The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, commended the outgoing commander for his activities during the period.
Tar said the command had acted on actionable intelligence and cited improvements in intelligence gathering, civil-military relations, personnel welfare and command-and-control arrangements among developments during the tenure.
Abubakar attributed the reported operational outcomes to the efforts and sacrifices of troops, as well as support from government, security agencies, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders.
He acknowledged the contributions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, General OO Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General W Shuaibu, the Borno State Government, UN OCHA, ICRC, British Defence Staff West Africa, Hybrid Forces, humanitarian partners and the media.
The outgoing Theatre Commander also visited the Maimalari Cantonment Military Cemetery, where he laid a wreath in honour of military personnel who died in the line of duty.
At the formal transition ceremony, Abubakar urged troops to remain dedicated and professional and sustain operations against terrorism while honouring fallen personnel.
He also called on troops and stakeholders to extend to Ajose the cooperation given to his command.
Taking over as the 16th Theatre Commander, Ajose said the fundamental mandate of Operation HADIN KAI remained the restoration of normalcy in the North East and the creation of conditions for socio-economic activities to continue.
Ajose said he would build on the activities of the previous command and noted his previous service in Borno State as Commander 5 Brigade and Chief of Staff, Force Special Forces Command.
He also pledged to maintain existing relationships with the Borno State Government, humanitarian partners, Hybrid Forces, the Civilian Joint Task Force, the media and other stakeholders as the Theatre continues operations against terrorism.
The ceremony featured the signing of handing and taking-over notes, an address to troops, a quarter guard, the lowering and hoisting of the Regimental Colours, presentation of awards and souvenirs, and a group photograph.
