its dimming integrity, forces of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have in the past weeks been conducted coordinated land and air offensives against insurgents hibernating along the fringes of the Lake Chad, eliminating scores of the commanders of the Boko Haram Terrorists /Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The Operation codenamed OPERATION LAKE SANITY was a joint operation involving the MNJTF troops from Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon and troops of the 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).
Advancing from different corridors identified as enclaves of the terrorists, the troops made gradual incursions into the insurgents dens, according to a statement by Colonel Muhammad Dole, Chief of Military Public Information, Headquarters, MNJTF, Ndjamena Chad.
Some of the areas cleared include ZANARI, ARINA WOJE which served as a major fabrication workshops, ASAGAR, LARKI and GARERE.
Other areas included KERENOA, WURJE, AREGE, ABADAM, DORON LELEWA, KOLARAM and other locations around the Islands.
Within the period of this operation, over 100 terrorists have been neutralised, including over 10 top commanders neutralised following intelligence driven air strikes in the Lake Chad islands by the combined Air Taskforces.
Some of the commanders who fell during the onslaught included Abubakar Dan Buduma, Abubakar Shuwa, Abu Ali and Abu Jubrilla among others.
Also, 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.
In the course of the operation, 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 house holds materials were recovered and destroyed immediately.
*MNJTF Destroys ISWAP vehicles
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 was discovered to be a big Boko Haram /ISWAP camp, having another large IED-making and vehicle borne-IED making factory 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 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.
*MNJTF Destroys ISWAP Facilities
The obviously frustrated BHT/ISWAP have resorted to indiscriminate laying of IEDs and use of Vehicle Borne Explosive Devices attacks.
One pattern noticed in the operation was that the criminals hastily withdraw and avoid making contact with the approaching troops .
They instead rely on suicide vehicle borne attacks. About four different such attacks have so far targeted the troops who have not been deterred.
Sadly, 18 soldiers including an officer have been wounded in these attacks and have been evacuated to various military medical facilities for treatment while three soldiers and one member of the CJTF paid the supreme sacrifice.
*MNJTF Raids ISWAP IED factory
Despite the challenges of difficult terrain, IED threats and sundry challenges, especially in this religious season, the troops have maintained the momentum, remaining focused and determined to pursue and decimate the fleeing terrorists, wherever they go in the Lake Chad islands.
The 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.
While paying tribute to the members of this operation, who paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, he referred to them as heroes that would never be forgotten.
He also prayed for the quick recovery of the wounded heroes.
*MNJTF battered ISWAP terrorists in Lake Chad
The FC urged the troops to be resolute and bold to finally eradicate the criminals from the Lake Chad areas and promised continuous logistics support to the troops.
General Ibrahim advised the terrorists to lay down their arms like thousands of their colleagues who had done so instead of pursuing a futile and failed cause.
He also appealed to the communities in the areas of operation and beyond to always support security forces by passing credible information on the terrorists quickly to bring the scourge of terrorism in the area to an end.
