Odita Sunday 
Operation Hadin Kai deepens university partnership to boost campus security
By Odita Sunday
The Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, has strengthened its partnership with universities in the region to improve the security of students, staff and academic communities amid ongoing efforts to consolidate peace in the North-East.
The engagement took place on Monday, August 24, 2026, when a delegation of university authorities visited the Theatre Command Headquarters, Maiduguri, to discuss measures for strengthening security around tertiary institutions.
The delegation was led by former Vice Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Professor Ali Audu Sani, and included the Vice Chancellor of Al-Ansar University, Borno State, Professor Fanna Inna Abdulrahman, and the Vice Chancellor of Borno State University, Professor Babagana Gutti.
The university leaders commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, while also applauding troops of Operation HADIN KAI for their sacrifices and commitment to restoring security in the region.
They said the improving security situation had boosted confidence and created a more conducive environment for academic activities.
The university authorities also acknowledged security assessments carried out by Operation HADIN KAI, which provided recommendations on perimeter protection, surveillance, communication systems and emergency preparedness.
They disclosed that several of the recommendations had already been implemented, including strengthening perimeter security, installing surveillance cameras and improving communication systems.
The university leaders pledged to sustain collaboration with security agencies and ensure timely sharing of information to support early warning and response to emerging threats.
Responding, the Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, thanked the university authorities for recognising the sacrifices of troops and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting educational institutions as critical national assets.
Abubakar stressed that security and education were closely connected, noting that human-capacity development and resilient communities were essential to achieving lasting peace in the North-East.
He also highlighted the strategic role of universities in the non-kinetic aspect of counter-terrorism, particularly in countering radicalisation, misinformation and extremist narratives.
According to him, educated and resilient youths are less vulnerable to terrorist recruitment, while universities can help promote patriotism, responsible citizenship and resistance to extremist propaganda.
The Theatre Commander assured the delegation that Operation HADIN KAI would continue to combine kinetic operations with proactive security measures, strategic engagement and intelligence-led protection of vulnerable institutions.
He urged university authorities to sustain the implementation of security recommendations, strengthen internal vigilance and maintain effective communication with security agencies to facilitate early warning and timely intervention.
The engagement, the military said, further reinforced the shared commitment of Operation HADIN KAI and the academic community to strengthening civil-military cooperation, protecting educational institutions and creating a safe environment for learning, research and sustainable development across the North-East.
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