In a significant development, 176 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered to the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad basin, following a series of intensive military operations.
The MNJTF, a coalition of forces from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has been conducting aggressive offensives against Boko Haram hideouts, leading to this wave of surrenders. Major General Ibrahim Sallau Ali, the MNJTF commander, announced the news during a press briefing at the task force’s headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad, on Tuesday.
Gen. Ali reported that, in addition to the surrenders, MNJTF troops captured 57 terrorists in various raids around the Lake Chad basin. “Military hardware, including sophisticated weapons and logistics, were recovered from the terrorists during the operation,” he said.
The operations have been bolstered by air support from the Chadian, Nigerian, and Cameroonian Air Forces, which have neutralized several terrorists in their hideouts. “The success was recorded due largely to the support of Defence chiefs from the Lake Chad countries,” added Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, the MNJTF spokesperson.
Gen. Ali expressed gratitude for the cooperation and intelligence sharing among the armed forces of the coalition countries. “The unified efforts and strategic coordination among our forces have significantly weakened Boko Haram’s operational capabilities,” he stated.
The surrender of these Boko Haram fighters is seen as a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability in the Lake Chad region. It marks a notable success for the MNJTF in its mission to combat terrorism and insurgency in the area.