New Commander Takes Charge of Operation Hadin Kai in Fresh Push Against Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army has appointed Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose as the new Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, putting a new commander at the centre of Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East. Ajose’s appointment was announced on September 9, 2026, as part of a wider shake-up involving senior Nigerian Army officers. He takes over from Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, who had led Operation Hadin Kai since April 2025 and has now been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean of its Faculty of Operational Research. Operation Hadin Kai remains one of Nigeria’s most important military operations, with responsibility for counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP across the North-East. The Army said the redeployments were designed to strengthen operational effectiveness, improve leadership and ensure experienced officers are positioned in critical operational theatres. The appointment therefore comes at a critical moment, as insecurity remains a major national concern and the country prepares for the 2027 elections. Ajose moves to the North-East from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations. He is an experienced military officer who has previously held operational responsibilities, including command roles connected to Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts in the North-West. His new position places him directly at the helm of the military command responsible for confronting some of the country’s most persistent terrorist threats. The new commander inherits a theatre where Boko Haram and ISWAP have remained active despite years of military operations. The insurgency has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions since it began in 2009, according to conflict data cited by Reuters. Recent military operations have also continued to target terrorist hideouts and camps in the North-East, highlighting the difficult security environment awaiting the new commander. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, charged the newly redeployed officers to demonstrate professionalism, operational innovation and commitment in their new assignments. For Ajose, the expectations are particularly high. Nigerians will be watching to see whether the new leadership can deliver stronger pressure on terrorist groups, protect vulnerable communities and restore greater confidence in security across the North-East.