Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, has arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on an operational visit amid renewed security concerns in the North-East.
The minister, a retired general, was received on arrival by the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Abdulsalam Abubakar, alongside the General Officer Commanding and Sector One Commander, Ugochukwu Unachukwu, and other senior military officers.
This marks his first official visit to the state in his capacity as Defence Minister, following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Prior to his appointment, Musa served as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff.
Though the specific purpose of the visit was not disclosed to journalists at the time of filing this report, it may be connected to the evolving security situation in the North-East, particularly the resurgence of attacks by terrorist groups.
In recent months, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have intensified operations to contain threats posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
In one of the latest engagements, troops repelled a coordinated infiltration attempt by ISWAP fighters in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State, during which more than 61 terrorists were neutralised.
Details later……
