By Gabriel Ameh
The Commander, Corps of Engineers (CCE), Nigerian Army, Major General Shamsudeen Shafaru, has commended troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), for their resilience, professionalism, and commitment in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the region.
Major General Shafaru gave the commendation during a five-day operational assessment visit to the theatre of Operation HADIN KAI, which commenced on February 28, 2026. The visit took him to the Headquarters Theatre Command, sectors, components, formations, and units across the theatre.
Speaking at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force on January 29, 2026, the CCE explained that the purpose of his visit was to assess the operational capacity of Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE) deployed in the theatre and identify areas for enhanced support to improve their effectiveness.
He praised the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and troops of OPHK for their dedication and courage despite the challenging terrain and psychological demands of asymmetric warfare. He also acknowledged the critical role played by Nigerian Army Engineers in the operational successes recorded in the theatre.
The CCE noted that the visit was in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy aimed at transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, and combat-ready force capable of operating effectively within joint and multi-agency environments.
He added that OPHK was among the first operational theatres he chose to visit upon assuming office, underscoring the importance of engineering support to operations in the North East.
Major General Shafaru assured troops of sustained focus on training and capacity development and pledged the provision of modern engineering platforms and equipment to enhance operational effectiveness in the fight against insurgency.
In his remarks, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, appreciated the CCE’s visit, describing it as timely and strategic in view of evolving security challenges. He highlighted the indispensable contributions of engineer personnel in mitigating threats and assured the CCE of the welfare and safety of engineers deployed in the theatre.
He also appealed for continued support through the provision of additional operational enablers.
The visit featured operational briefings, a tour of selected sectors and formations, signing of the visitors’ book, and interactions with personnel. The assessment visit concluded on February 1, 2026.
