Borno Pledges Continued Support for MNJTF in Fight Against Terrorists
The Borno State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in its ongoing efforts to restore peace and security across the Lake Chad region.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum gave the assurance on Monday while hosting the new Force Commander of the MNJTF, Major General Saidu Tanko Audu, during a familiarization visit to Maiduguri following his assumption of office on November 13, 2025.
Congratulating Major General Audu on his appointment, Governor Zulum commended the MNJTF and other security agencies for their sustained collaboration with the state government, which he said has contributed significantly to the relative peace and development being recorded in Borno State.
The governor recalled the state’s previous logistical and operational support to security agencies, particularly its contributions to the success of Operation Lake Sanity 1 and 2, the MNJTF’s flagship military operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks around the Lake Chad Basin.
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Describing the new Force Commander as a proactive and dedicated officer with high integrity, Zulum expressed confidence that Major General Audu would take the MNJTF to greater heights. He urged the commander to intensify military operations in the islands and “tumbus” of Lake Chad, which he described as ungoverned spaces often used by terrorists as hideouts and regrouping points during sustained military offensives.
The governor specifically called for increased deployments, especially on the Nigerian side of the lake, to deny insurgents freedom of movement and eliminate their operational safe havens. He further assured the MNJTF of the state government’s continued support despite the pressure on its limited resources.
In his response, Major General Audu said his visit was to engage the governor as a key stakeholder in the Lake Chad Basin Commission Governors’ Forum. He expressed appreciation for Borno State’s consistent backing of MNJTF operations and appealed for sustained cooperation.
The Force Commander revealed that he had developed a comprehensive strategy to tackle the threats posed by Boko Haram and other non-state actors by taking the fight directly to their enclaves.
He assured the state government that his command would align with the MNJTF’s grand strategic direction to achieve its mandate of restoring lasting peace and security in the Lake Chad region, adding that “the end is in sight” in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.
The statement was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Iweha Ikedichi, Acting Chief Military Public Information Officer, MNJTF.
By PRNigeria
