In a significant move to bolster national security, a high-powered Nigerian delegation led by Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, embarked on a strategic mission to Cameroon on Friday, December 5, 2025.
High-Level Delegation for Border Security
The delegation, which included prominent national figures, was received in Yaoundé by the General Coordinator of Cameroon's Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR), Brigadier General Relence Francois. The mission's core objective is a security assessment aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation against terrorism and transnational crimes.
Governor Kefas emphasized that this initiative is a direct product of long-term intelligence gathering. "This is a product of long-term intelligence gathering, which I have also shared with the National Security Adviser and other security agencies," he stated. The visit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's national security directive to curb cross-border threats and reinforce Nigeria's territorial integrity.
Composition of the Strategic Team
The delegation comprised key security stakeholders and legislators, underscoring the mission's importance. Notable members included the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi, and former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Other members of the team were:
- The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bonzema John.
- Security Intelligence Executives from the Israeli security firm, ETOS.
- A member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Abel Diau.
- A representative from the office of the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Col. JG Kwelle.
- The Military Attaché from the Nigerian Embassy in Cameroon.
Objectives and Expected Outcomes
Governor Kefas described the trip as a fact-finding mission designed to enhance intelligence-sharing and bolster operational synergy along the vast international borders shared by Nigeria and Cameroon. The team plans to inspect vulnerable border communities, illegal crossing points, and known corridors used for illicit movement.
"We have always looked forward to collaborating with the Cameroonian government on border security," Kefas said. "This meeting provides an opportunity to inspect vulnerable border communities... We will now return to Nigeria, brainstorm with the National Security Adviser, and meet with the president."
This diplomatic security push comes amidst ongoing military operations within Nigeria, such as Operation Whirl Stroke and Operation Zafin Wuta in Taraba State. These operations recently led to the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, Abubakar Bawa, in Wukari Local Government Area while he was negotiating a N20 million ransom.
The high-level engagement with Cameroonian authorities signals a proactive, regional approach to tackling security challenges that transcend national boundaries, aiming to create a safer environment for communities on both sides of the border.
