Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has affirmed that in efforts to end insurgency, the Nigerian Armed Forces, led by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has facilitated the return of the Niger Republic back into the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Badaru, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, made the disclosure in Abuja, yesterday, in a briefing to kick-start activities towards the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebrations (AFRDC).

The defence minister said the development would help in securing the border with the Republic of Niger and contribute to the effectiveness of the Joint Task Force.

According to Badaru, the Armed Forces Remembrance Day is a very important event celebrated globally and observed in commemoration of the end of the World War I, which ended on November 11, 1918.

“While other Commonwealth member countries observe this event on November 11 yearly, Nigeria observes it on January 15 yearly to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War.

“The troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have continually dealt fatal blows to terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Region through a series of daring operations.”

The minister said they would continue to prioritise the welfare, training, and equipment needs of the troops to maintain their operational readiness and efficiency, even as they looked forward to adopting a proactive approach to combating the security challenges by harnessing its intelligence resources and having stronger partnerships with the West African neighbours.