PRESS RELEASE- As ICRC, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Delegations Pay Courtesy Visits to Headquarters OPHK
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Theatre Command to sustained collaboration with humanitarian partners in the North East, in line with the mandate of restoring peace and enabling socio-economic recovery in the region.
Major General Abubakar gave the assurance on Thursday, 13 November 2025, when he received delegations from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Spain , also known as Doctors without Borders on separate courtesy visits to the Headquarters Theatre Command in Maiduguri, Borno State.
While welcoming the Head of the ICRC Sub-delegation in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, and her team, the Theatre Commander commended the ICRC for its unwavering support and collaboration in delivering humanitarian services to victims of armed conflict.He acknowledged the critical role of the ICRC in conflict environments, particularly in capacity building, victim support and humanitarian assistance.
“We will continue to sustain and deepen the cordial relationship that exists between the Theatre Command and the ICRC, and also explore more opportunities for cooperation,” Major General Abubakar assured.
Earlier in her remarks, Diana Japaridze appreciated the openness and cooperation of the Theatre Command, noting that the visit was aimed at assessing the general security situation in the North East and reaffirming the ICRC’s active presence in the region.
She explained that the organization’s mandate focuses on ensuring that persons affected or separated as a result of conflict have access to humanitarian aid and family reunification services.
The ICRC delegation included the Deputy Protection Coordinator, Mr Kouame Noel, and the Armed Forces and Security Adviser, Lieutenant Colonel Babatunde Lawal (retired). The visit featured the signing of the visitors’ book, exchange of souvenirs, and a group photograph.
Similarly, the Theatre Commander received the Coordinator of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Spain, Mr Omer Sarikaya, and his team on a separate visit aimed at strengthening partnership in medical service delivery for vulnerable populations across the North East Region.
Mr Sarikaya expressed appreciation to the Theatre Command for its cooperation and support, noting that MSF has continued to provide emergency, life-saving medical services in collaboration with the Borno State Ministry of Health and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
