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In continuation of its counter-insurgency operations in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB ) areas, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Force has Initiated new Strategies to fighters insurgency as troops recorded more successes, eliminated about 805 Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists fighters during clearance operations which commenced in March this year.
The operations involved the land, maritime and air operations to rout out Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters hibernating in the fringes of the Lake Chad.
Force Commander, Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim made this disclosure on Thursday while briefing Journalists on forces of the Multinational Joint Task Force activities at MNJTF Headquarters N’Djamena, Chad republic.
Forcer commander said, forces comprising Nigerien and Nigerian, Chad and Cameroon, Benin troops with four sectors and headquarters at N’Djamena.
General Khalifa pointed out that over three thousand hostages have been rescued while eight hundred and five insurgents have been neutralised in the operation.
Under its current operation code name, Lake Sanity, the Joint Task Force has reportedly carried out 17 major attacks on strategic enclaves in the area, during which over 4000 of the fighters surrendered.
Though the MNJTF says its improved operations had enabled locals to resume their commuting and commercial activities around the border areas of Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon, the commander is, however, worried about the level of cooperation the troops get from the civilian populace.
Ibrahim informed the journalists on the people-centric nature of the counterinsurgency operations, saying that “because we are fighting an unknown enemy – yes sometimes they wear something that looks like uniforms, but they are still difficult to be identified. That’s why we have to be close to the locals”.
He called on the governments of members countries to continue to support the troops with logistics and modern arms and ammunition to boost military operations.
He advised the remnants of the insurgents and terrorists groups to lay down their arms and embrace the path of peace.
The MNJTF Commander urged affected communities on the islands of the Lake Chad to continue to support the military by providing credible information about the activities of the insurgents to achieve sustainable peace in the region.