By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj.-Gen. Saidu Audu, has assured the Borno State Government that the end of the Boko Haram insurgency and other non-state armed groups operating in the Lake Chad region is in sight, citing sustained military pressure and coordinated operations by MNJTF troops and partner forces.
Audu gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, in Maiduguri, as part of his familiarisation tour following his assumption of office on Thursday,13 November, 2025.
The visit, he explained, was aimed at engaging key stakeholders and strengthening cooperation to restore lasting peace and security across the Lake Chad basin.
The assurance was contained in a statement released on Tuesday, 20 January, 2026 by Lt.-Col. Ikedichi Oweha, the Acting Chief Military Public Information Officer of MNJTF.
According to the statement, Audu used the visit to appreciate the consistent support of the Borno State Government for MNJTF operations, noting that Governor Zulum is a critical stakeholder within the Lake Chad Basin Commission Governors’ Forum.
Speaking further, the MNJTF commander said the task force had developed a comprehensive strategy to address the threats posed by Boko Haram and other non-state actors.
He explained that the approach involves taking the fight directly to insurgents’ enclaves while maintaining alignment with the force’s grand strategic direction to fulfil its mandate of restoring peace and security in the region.
“Ongoing efforts by MNJTF troops and partner forces indicate that the end of the Boko Haram insurgency and related security challenges is within reach,” Audu said, expressing confidence that sustained operations would further weaken the insurgents.
In his response, Governor Zulum congratulated Audu on his appointment and reaffirmed the continued support of the Borno State Government for the MNJTF.
He commended the military and other security agencies for their sustained efforts, noting that their sacrifices have continued to provide the foundation for peace and development in the state.
The Governor recalled the state government’s logistical and operational support to security agencies over the years, including its contributions to the success of MNJTF’s flagship operations, Operation Lake Sanity I and II.
He described Audu as a disciplined, proactive and dedicated senior officer with high integrity, expressing confidence that his leadership would further strengthen the task force.
Furthermore, Zulum urged the MNJTF commander to ntensify operations in the Lake Chad islands and tumbus, which he described as ungoverned spaces often exploited by terrorists as hideouts whenever they are under military pressure.
He also called for sustained troop deployments, particularly on the Nigerian side of the Lake Chad region, to deny insurgents freedom of action and safe havens from which they launch attacks on civilian communities.
Despite competing demands on the state’s limited resources, the governor assured the MNJTF of continued support, stressing that sustained collaboration between the state government and security agencies remains critical to achieving lasting peace in Borno and the wider Lake Chad region.
The visit, both parties noted, underscored a shared commitment to ending insurgency and restoring stability across the region.
