The Borno State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in achieving its mandate of restoring peace and security across the Lake Chad region.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum gave the assurance while hosting the Force Commander of the MNJTF, Saidu Tanko Audu, during a courtesy and familiarization visit in Maiduguri. Major General Audu assumed command of the MNJTF on 13 November 2025.
According to a statement by the Acting Chief Military Public Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Iweha Ikedichi, Governor Zulum congratulated the Force Commander on his appointment and commended security agencies for their sustained support to the Borno State Government—an effort he said has underpinned the relative peace and development currently enjoyed in the state.
The governor recalled the state’s consistent backing of security agencies and highlighted Borno’s contributions to the success of Operation Lake Sanity I & II, the MNJTF’s flagship operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks around Lake Chad.
Describing Major General Audu as a disciplined, proactive, and highly principled officer, Governor Zulum expressed confidence that the MNJTF would attain greater operational success under his leadership. He urged the Force Commander to extend operations deeper into the islands and tumbus of Lake Chad, which he described as ungoverned spaces exploited by terrorists to regroup and launch attacks on civilian communities.
The governor further called for sustained deployments—particularly on the Nigerian side of the Lake—to deny terrorists freedom of action and safe havens. He assured the MNJTF of the state government’s continued support despite competing demands on limited resources.
Earlier, Major General Audu said his visit was to engage the governor as a key stakeholder in the Lake Chad Basin Commission Governors’ Forum. He thanked the Borno State Government for its longstanding support to MNJTF operations and appealed for continued collaboration.
The Force Commander disclosed that the MNJTF has developed a comprehensive strategy to confront Boko Haram and other non-state armed groups by taking the fight directly to their enclaves. He assured the state government of his resolve to align operations with the MNJTF’s grand strategic direction to deliver lasting peace and security in the Lake Chad region, adding that the end of the insurgency was in sight.
