From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Multinational Joint task Force (MNJTF) has said that following intelligence driven lethal air strikes in the Lake Chad islands by the combined Air Task Forces, its troops have neutralised over 100 terrorists, including 10 top commanders.
This was contained in a statement by the Chief of Military Public Information
Headquarters, MNJTF, Ndjamena, Chad Colonel Muhammad Dole and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.
The statement stated some of commanders to include Abubakar Dan Buduma, Abubakar Shuwa, Abu Ali and Abu Jubrilla.
The statement added that the success was as a result of well coordinated land and air offensives in an Operation codenamed; OPERATION LAKE CHAD SANITY.
The statement further stated that the Operation is a joint and combined operations involving the MNJTF troops from Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon and troops from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK- Nigeria) as well as the Air Task Forces of the MNJTF and OPHK, other security agencies and the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF)
“Steadily advancing in different corridors of the theatre towards identifying enclaves, the dogged troops operating under the shared aspiration of the MNJTF made gradual but unprecedented incursions into the insurgents dens.
“Some of the areas cleared include ZANARI, ARINA WOJE which served as a major fabrication workshop, ASAGAR, LARKI and GARERE. Other areas cleared include KERENOA, WURJE, AREGE, ABADAM, DORON LELEWA, KOLARAM and several other locations around the Islands.
“Relatedly, sophisticated weapons of different calibres were either destroyed or captured, including a 105 mm artillery piece, several canoes/boats, motorcycles, bicycles, other terrorists’ equipment, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) making factories and bunkers were destroyed.
“ In the course of the operation, a significant number of innocent citizens, mostly women and children held captive by the criminals were rescued. Large quantity of food stuff (grains), fuel dumps, illicit drugs, terrorists’ uniforms and other household materials were recovered and destroyed immediately.
“Recent activities of the Operations include a clearance patrol to Fedondiya settlement where logistics and foodstuffs, including several bags of maize and beans, motorcycles, some immobilized and cannibalized military and civil vehicles, were discovered.
“Others include grinding machines, other vehicle fabrication tools and military uniforms were all destroyed and set ablaze in the location.
“ It is obviously a big Boko Haram /ISWAP camp, having another large IED making and vehicle borne IED making factory that was cleverly camouflaged to prevent detection from the air.
“In a related development, the MNJTF troops on clearance patrols in the general areas of Kimeguna near the Lake Chad in Niger republic accosted BHT/ISWAP logisticians ferrying Four Hundred Fifty Seven (457) bags of fish in several carts.
“The bags of fish were immediately destroyed in line with the MNJTF Standing Operating Procedure, while the suspects are being profiled.
“Despite the obvious challenges of difficult terrain, IED threats and sundry challenges, especially in this religious season, the troops continue to maintain the momentum, remaining focused and determined to pursue and decimate the fleeing terrorists, wherever they go in the Lake Chad islands.he Force Commander (FC) MNJTF, Major General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim has commended the Deputy Force Commander, sector commanders, other officers and especially the gallant officers and men of MNJTF and other operations, including the CJTF actively operating in the field for their courage and commitment.
