In a bid to enhance national security, the Nigerian Navy has reiterated its commitment to Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), vowing to provide sustained operational support in the fight against Boko Haram and its offshoots in the Lake Chad region and the Northeast.
Rear Admiral Olusegun Soyemi, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Navy’s Special Operations Command (SOC), made the assurance during a two‑day maiden operational assessment visit to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East) (Operation Hadin Kai) in Maiduguri.
He emphasised that the Navy will continue to advance national security objectives through enhanced coordination and operational control, particularly via the Naval Base Lake Chad. The visit also aimed to strengthen inter‑service synergy among the Armed Forces and enhance joint operational effectiveness across the North East theatre.
The Naval Base at Baga in the Lake Chad Basin has been described as not only a military asset but a strategic economic‑security hub, facilitating protection of vital waterways and bolstering commerce in the region.
Recent operations confirm the Navy’s active role: for instance, on June 18, 2025 a coordinated attack by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on the Lake Chad naval base was successfully repelled, with scores of insurgents neutralised and key strategic assets preserved.
Rear Admiral Soyemi remarked that the Navy Headquarters’ intervention in the theatre will serve as a force multiplier, aligning with the Navy’s spectrum strategy and national security aims, as well as supporting the region’s economic resurgence.
Maj‑Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of OPHK, commended the Navy’s “unprecedented support”, noting that the maritime component had significantly enhanced operational activities and overall mission success.
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