Military Moves to Secure Lake Chad for Fishing, Trade as Navy Chief Assures Communities

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has assured residents of the Lake Chad region that the military is intensifying efforts to secure the lake and its adjoining waterways to allow fishing, transportation and other socio-economic activities to thrive again in the Northeast.

Abbas said the safety of Lake Chad and insurgency-affected communities could only be achieved through strong collaboration among the military, other security agencies and local partners, stressing that synergy remains critical to ending terrorism in the region.

The Naval Chief made the remarks on Thursday in Maiduguri during a working visit to naval formations operating within the Lake Chad Basin, including bases in Baga and along the lake’s shores.

Briefing journalists at the Theatre Command, Maimalari Cantonment, Abbas explained that joint operations involving the Armed Forces, security agencies, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were designed to restore confidence and normalcy to communities that depend on the lake for survival.

“Our combined military efforts with other security agencies and the Civilian JTF across Lake Chad and its waterways will enable fishermen and farmers to safely return to their livelihoods,” he said. “By securing the Lake and the many waterways that connect communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, we are reopening the economic lifelines of the region.”

Beyond security operations, the CNS noted that his visit was also aimed at assessing the operational needs of troops deployed in the multinational Lake Chad region, which includes Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger.

“We are in Maiduguri to evaluate the operational requirements of our personnel in the Lake Chad area and to ensure they have what is needed to effectively carry out their duties,” Abbas added.

He further disclosed that sustained joint military action was intended to deny Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters freedom of movement within the lake and its surrounding waterways, which have been exploited by insurgents for over a decade.

As part of the visit, Vice Admiral Abbas inspected the ongoing construction of the Maiduguri Naval Base (MNAB), located about 10 kilometres east of the city along the Monguno Road, before proceeding to the Naval Base in Baga.

The Naval Chief is also expected to pay a courtesy visit to Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri, alongside senior officers from the Theatre Command, to further discuss security and development efforts in the state.

Army Opens Two New Bases in Northeast, Steps Up Offensive Against Terrorists

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army has established two new forward operating bases in the Duji and Kekeno communities as part of renewed efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast.

The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, disclosed this at a Christmas luncheon organised in honour of wounded troops at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State. Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, the Commander of the Infantry Corps, represented him at the event.

According to the Army Chief, the newly established bases are designed to improve operational reach and response time, particularly around the Lake Chad axis and the Sambisa Forest, long considered strongholds of insurgent groups.

Gen. Shuaibu referred to the wounded soldiers as “special troops” who are still influencing ongoing military operations with their sacrifices.

He said the interaction with them was meant to boost morale and reinforce the resolve of the Armed Forces to put an end to the 16-year Boko Haram insurgency, which has devastated communities across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.

“We are here with you to renew our commitment and inject greater momentum into the fight against terrorism,” he said, noting that the military remains determined to restore lasting peace to the region.

Also speaking at the event, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, highlighted significant gains recorded by troops in the field this year.

He revealed that between May and December 2025, soldiers recovered 254 assorted weapons from terrorists’ hideouts and rescued 366 civilians from various enclaves.

He further disclosed that troops intercepted about 300 units of Starlink communication devices, cutting off a critical channel used by insurgents to coordinate attacks.

Maj.-Gen. Abubakar added that sustained military pressure has continued to weaken terrorist groups, leading to the surrender of no fewer than 881 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, along with their families, within the year.

“These achievements on the front lines clearly show the progress being made in our ongoing operations across the three states in the theatre,” he said, reaffirming the military’s commitment to dismantling remaining terrorist networks in the region.