The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, Saidu Audu, has assured the Borno State Government that the end of Boko Haram and other non-state armed groups operating in the Lake Chad region is in sight.
Audu gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum in Maiduguri as part of his familiarisation tour following his assumption of office on November 13, 2025.
He said the visit was aimed at engaging the governor as a key stakeholder in the Lake Chad Basin Commission Governors’ Forum and to appreciate the consistent support the Borno State Government has continued to provide for MNJTF operations across the region.
Audu explained that the MNJTF had developed a comprehensive strategy focused on addressing the threats posed by Boko Haram and other non-state actors by taking the fight directly to their enclaves and dismantling their operational bases. He assured the state government that the force would continue to operate strictly in line with its grand strategic direction to fulfil its mandate of restoring peace and security in the Lake Chad 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,” he said.
Governor Zulum congratulated Audu on his appointment as Force Commander and reaffirmed the Borno State Government’s continued support for the MNJTF in the discharge of its responsibilities. He commended the military and other security agencies for their sustained efforts in the state, noting that their operations have continued to provide a foundation for peace, recovery, and development in Borno.
The governor recalled the state government’s past logistical and operational support to security agencies, including its contributions to the success of the MNJTF’s flagship operations, Operation Lake Sanity I and II, which were aimed at degrading insurgent capabilities and reclaiming territories within the Lake Chad region.
Zulum described Audu as a disciplined, proactive, and dedicated senior officer with high integrity, expressing confidence that his leadership would further strengthen the MNJTF and take the force to greater heights in the ongoing fight against insurgency.
He urged the Force Commander to intensify military operations in the Lake Chad islands and tumbus, which he described as ungoverned spaces frequently exploited by terrorists as hideouts whenever they come under pressure from security forces. He also called for sustained deployments in the islands, particularly on the Nigerian side, to deny terrorists freedom of action and eliminate safe havens used to launch attacks on civilian communities.
The governor assured the MNJTF of the Borno State Government’s continued support, despite competing demands on the state’s limited resources, stressing the importance of sustained collaboration to achieve lasting peace and security in the region.
