By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal Michael Ekwueme, on Friday, 30 January 2026, paid an operational visit to the Theatre Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East (NE), Operation Hadin Kai, in Maimalari Military Cantonment, Maiduguri, where he was received by the Theatre Commander , Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar.
During the visit, Air Vice Marshal Ekwueme commended the resilience, discipline, selflessness, and courage of troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the ongoing fight against insurgency. He assured the Theatre Commander of sustained and enhanced air support, including the deployment of additional air platforms to further mitigate operational challenges and consolidate operational gains within the theatre.
“I assure you of maximum support and the deployment of more air platforms to strengthen your operations. We remain hopeful that these efforts will hasten the restoration of peace and a return to full normalcy in the North East,” the AOC TAC said.
In his remarks, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, expressed delight at hosting the AOC TAC and noted that despite the increasing complexity of operations, prompt air support has remained decisive in achieving mission objectives.
Major General Abubakar highlighted the importance of effective ground-to-air communication, stressing that improved transition capabilities and sustained in-theatre training of personnel across sectors have significantly enhanced joint operational effectiveness.
The visit featured operational briefings at the Headquarters Theatre Command, exchange of souvenirs, signing of the visitors’ book, group photographs and a guided tour of the Air Component of OPHK.
