Some 47 terrorists comprising Boko Haram and ISWAP members have surrendered to troops of 403 Amphibious Brigade of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Sector 3 in Nigeria.
A statement on Thursday from the Chief Military Public Information Officer of the MNJTF, N’Djamena, Chad, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, said those who surrendered comprising seven men, nine women and 31 children submitted themselves at Kwatan Turare and Doron Baga in Kukawa LGA of Borno State.
“During the initial investigation conducted, it was revealed that these individuals managed to escape from Sharama, located in the Lake Chad Islands. Among those who surrendered was Mallam Muazu Adamu, a known fighter within the Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad (JAS) faction, who operated under Commander Alai Gana. He surrendered alongside his wife.
“Other members of the group disclosed that they had been engaged in farming activities before deciding to make their escape. The items found in their possession include clothes, blankets, mats, pots, plates, and various other personal belongings.
“The surrendered individuals are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation to ascertain more details regarding their activities and affiliations. The MNJTF remains committed to maintaining peace and security in the Lake Chad basin region.
“This development marks a step in the ongoing efforts to weaken the operational capabilities of terrorist groups in the region. The MNJTF continues to encourage those still involved in terrorist activities to surrender and embrace peace,” Abdullahi said.
In another development, the Force Commander of MNJTF, Maj. Gen Ibrahim Salau Ali, has urged troops to adopt a positive mindset in prosecuting the fight against terrorists.
Ali made the call while addressing troops in Darak, Far North region of Cameroon, during an operational visit on Wednesday.
According to the statement by the spokesman of MNJTF, the visit by the Force Commander was aimed at boosting morale and assessing the progress of the ongoing Operation Lake Sanity 2.
He said that Gen. Ali emphasized that self-belief and commitment were essential for achieving success in the operation to contain terrorism in the Lake Chad Islands.
“He praised the troops for their dedication and resilience, expressing his satisfaction with their performance thus far. He assured them that Operation Lake Sanity 2 is a decisive effort to ensure that terrorists will find no sanctuary on the Lake Chad Islands.
“Additionally, Maj Gen Ali visited troops deployed in Wulgo, near the Nigeria-Cameroon border, further solidifying his support for the troops on the front lines.
“He assured the troops all necessary support to secure results in the ongoing operation. Praising the local vigilante groups for their contributions, Gen Ali highlighted their sacrifices for their communities, recognizing the assistance they provide in intelligence and ground support”, the statement from the MNJTF spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of MNJTF, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi and his deputy, Lt. Commander Sokamte, have paid a familiarization visit to the Borno State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) where he interacted with journalists.
Abdullahi lauded the journalists for their coverage of the MNJTF activities and urged them to sustain the tempo.
“We feel it is our duty, as partners, to engage with you and extend our heartfelt thanks for the excellent professional work you have been doing to support the military’s efforts in defeating terrorism in this part of Africa. Prior to meeting with you, we also engaged with journalists from Chad and Cameroon.
“I urge all of you to continue your dedicated work, maintaining the momentum as we persist in providing you with accurate and timely information about our activities in the region,” Abdullahi said.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Ndahi Marama, thanked the MNJTF spokesman for the visit which he said would further strengthen the existing cordial relationship.
Marama assured sustained collaboration with the MNJTF in publicizing its activities.
