MNJTF eliminates 100 terrorists in Lake Chad

TROOPS of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have eliminated about 100 Boko Haram/ Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including 10 key commanders in the Lake Chad region, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported. 

The Chief of Military Public Information for MNJTF, Colonel Muhammad Dole, in a statement on Sunday, said the troops successfully hit the enclaves in well-coordinated land and air offensives. 

Dole said the offensives were conducted under Operation Lake Sanity, the joint operations involving the MNJTF troops from Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon and troops from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK-Nigeria). 

He said the operation also included the combined Air Task Forces of MNJTF and OPHK other security agencies and the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF). 

Dole said the troops raided the insurgents’ dens in Zanari, Arina Woje, which served as major fabrication workshops, and several other locations around the islands from different corridors in the last one week. 

According to him, the terrorists were neutralised following intelligence-driven lethal airstrikes in the Lake Chad islands by the combined air task forces. 

“Some of the commanders include Abubakar Dan Buduma, Abubakar Shuwa, Abu Ali and Abu Jubrilla, among others. 

“Relatedly, sophisticated weapons of different calibres, including a 105 mm artillery piece, several canoes/boats, motorcycles, bicycles, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)-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 quantities of foodstuff (grains), fuel dumps, illicit drugs, terrorists’ uniforms and other household materials were recovered and destroyed immediately,” he said. 

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The MNJTF spokesman said logistics and foodstuff, including several bags of maize and beans, motorcycles, some immobilised military and civil vehicles, were discovered at Fedondiya settlement in a clearance operation. 

He said that equipment, like grinding machines, vehicle fabrication tools and military uniforms were also destroyed and set ablaze in the location. 

According to him, it was 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. 

Dole said the MNJTF troops on clearance patrols in Kimeguna near Lake Chad in Niger Republic accosted terrorist logisticians ferrying 457 bags of fish in several carts. He said the bags of fish were immediately destroyed in line with the MNJTF standing operating procedure, adding that the suspects were currently being profiled. 

According to him, the obviously frustrated BHT/ISWAP criminals have resorted to the indiscriminate laying of IEDs and use of vehicle-borne explosive devices attacks. 

He said the troops had encountered four of such attacks, saying that 18 soldiers, including an officer, had been wounded in the attacks. 

Dole added that the wounded had been evacuated to various military medical facilities for treatment, while three soldiers and one member of the CJTF paid the supreme sacrifice. 

According to Dole, the Force Commander, MNJTF, Major-General Abdul-Khalifah Ibrahim, commended his deputy, sector commanders, officers and men of MNJTF and other operations, including the CJTF, for their courage and commitment. 

Dole said Ibrahim paid tribute to the troops who paid the supreme sacrifice and prayed for quick recovery of the wounded heroes.