UK, Germany Pledge Support for Nigeria’s Anti-Terrorism War
Authorities in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism have received renewed pledges of support from the
United Kingdom and Germany, as defence attachés from both European nations visited the Operation
HADIN KAI (Joint Task Force) headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State, this week.
During the visit on Wednesday, Brigadier Tom Harper, the United Kingdom’s Defence Attaché to Nigeria,
and Colonel Boris Bovecamp, Germany’s Defence Attaché, reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to
bolstering Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in the ongoing campaign against Boko Haram,
ISWAP and other violent extremist groups operating in the northeast region.
Harper praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their determination and professionalism in addressing
persistent security threats through Operation HADIN KAI, emphasising the enduring bilateral
cooperation between the UK and Nigeria rooted in shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law
and human rights.
He reiterated the UK’s intention to maintain and expand training programmes, particularly through the
British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT), to enhance the capabilities of Nigerian troops.
Echoing that support, Col. Bovecamp said Germany was committed to exploring additional areas of
collaboration, including capacity building, technical expertise and regional cooperation mechanisms
designed to improve operational effectiveness and strengthen joint efforts in counter-insurgency
operations.
The Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, welcomed the
delegation and expressed appreciation for the ongoing and future contributions from the UK and
Germany, noting that previous training initiatives had already helped improve Nigerian troops’ skills and
responsiveness to evolving security challenges.
The visit highlighted technical assistance, training support, equipment provision and logistics
collaboration as key components of future military cooperation between Nigeria and its European
partners.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
