The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue has pledged deeper partnership with Operation HADIN KAI. The Abuja-based organisation made the commitment on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Project Manager Chrisantus Lapang led a delegation to Maiduguri. The team visited the Headquarters Theatre Command of OPHK. Lapang said HD is ready to build the capacity of military personnel. The goal is to support peace restoration across the Northeast.
Operation HADIN KAI is the Joint Task Force for the Northeast. It has led Nigeria's counter-insurgency campaign for years. The operation combines kinetic strikes with non-kinetic community engagement. Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar serves as Theatre Commander. He received Lapang and Senior Coordinator Professor Abubakar Monguno at headquarters. The Theatre Commander called the visit significant. He said capacity building from HD would enhance peace restoration. It would also help return socio-economic activities to the region. The Commander expressed optimism that OPHK would benefit from HD's expertise. He reaffirmed the Theatre Command's commitment to training partnerships. Specific skills gaps would be identified for personnel. Civil-Military Cooperation remains a strategic pillar of the campaign. Sustained engagement with religious and traditional leaders has strengthened community trust. It has also improved public confidence. These non-kinetic efforts counter narratives that encourage terrorist support.
OPHK's non-kinetic operations have stabilized affected communities. Thousands of internally displaced persons have returned to ancestral homes. Vulnerable populations have gone back to farms and livelihoods. Community engagement and sensitisation have complemented kinetic strikes. They have disrupted terrorist logistics. Arms, ammunition, and combat materials have been recovered. The initiatives have also encouraged terrorists and associates to surrender. OPHK conducts all operations under Rules of Engagement. It adheres to International Humanitarian Law. Civilian Harm Mitigation receives particular emphasis.
The Theatre Commander reaffirmed sustained collaboration with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. The partnership will advance humanitarian interventions. It will also support peace mediation and conflict-resolution initiatives. The goal is lasting peace and stability in the Northeast. Deputy Theatre Commander Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa attended the meeting. Component Commanders and other senior officers were also present. The highpoints included a robust interactive engagement. The delegation signed the visitors' register. Souvenirs were presented. A group photograph was taken. The partnership signals a growing role for non-military actors in Nigeria's counter-insurgency framework. Analysts say capacity building from international organisations could fill gaps in conflict resolution. The Northeast has endured over a decade of insurgency. New approaches that blend military and humanitarian expertise may prove essential.
