By Olayemi Esan
The Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF), honoured 6000 outstanding personnel from all the Troops Contributing Countries were awarded two (2) categories of MNJTF medal and 12 deserving officers and men drawn from the 4 sectors of the MNJTF who participated and distinguished themselves by acts of bravery in the recent Operation Lake Sanity were honoured with awards of gallantry medal.
The colourful medal parade ceremony for the outgoing Military Staff Officers (MSOs), who have completed one year tour of duty took place at the in Camp Farcha, N`Djamena Republic of Chad on Thursday 28th July 2022.
Speaking at the epoch event, the Force Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force MNJTF, Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim said, the presentation of medals is an age long tradition of recognizing, appreciating, honouring and documenting the services and efforts of our deserving personnel which remains one of the most cherished and sacred traditions in military culture.
"Officers who have completed their statutory tour of duty as well as deserving personnel who participated in the recently concluded multinational joint Task Force Operation Lake Sanity,"he noted.
In his word, Maj. Gen Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim quoted Col. David Humphreys, an American Revolutionary War colonel and aide de camp to George Washington, wrote: “Few inventions could be more happily calculated to diffuse the knowledge and preserve the memory of illustrious characters and splendid events, than medals.” and surprisingly after many centuries his words still ring through today that one of these medals today, therefore, is a way to show public love and support for multinational joint task force personnel who sacrifice their lives, freedom, blood and sleep for the enforcement of peace.
Giving account of the professional handling of ongoing mass surrender of Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents by MNJTF troops, the FC said, to deliver on MNJTF mandates of defeating Boko Haram, and to restore normalcy, the force has successfully conducted in major operations with the last two major operations conducted under my watch. Collectively this operations have been relatively successful as thousands of terrorists have been neutralized, while others, alongside their families, have surrendered and many are still surrendering.
He said gradual peace is returning to communities as commercial, economic, agricultural, religious and traditional activities, and picking up in many communities, While in multinational Task force partnered, regional stabilisation strategy is fully on course.
The FC called on terrorists still locking in the wilderness to take this opportunity to turn themselves in and surrender, while also urging the international community to urgently support this surrendering process as it presents a potential window to end the conflict.
The MSOs from Republics of Benin, Niger, Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad were decorated with MNJTF medals and the Operation Lake Sanity Medal in recognition of their meritorious service for peace and security in the Lake Chad region.
The Force Commander therefore noted that, medals will only be presented to military staff officers in the headquarters and other deserving personnel, while the Sector commanders will at later date the decorate their own officers in their respective center locations, they have also with distinction and honor, and have remained good ambassadors of their respective countries.
In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH), Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum commended the MNJTF for its job at restoring peace in the region and congratulated the recipients for the excellent performance to merit the award of MNJTF Medal.
While commending the efforts of the Force commander, the multinational Joint Task Force and all other security agencies that are working in the multinational Joint Task Force to end insurgency.
Among the dignitaries that attended the ceremony were the Governor of Borno state, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, The Chadian Honourable Minister of Defence Lt Gen Daoud Yaya was represented by Brigadier General Taher Brahim Djouma, Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff General LEO Irabor who was represented by Maj Gen MA Yekini, Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Cameroun Chief of Defence Staff was represented by Brigadier General Melinqui Nouma.
Others include the Chadian Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen Abakar Abdelkerim Daoud was also represented by the Chadian Gendarmerie Adviser, the Executive Secretary Lake Chad Basin Commission and Head of Mission Ambassador Mamman Nuhu who was represented by the Director of Finance Mr Nadjingar Titdjebaye. The Chadian Minister of Security General Idriss, Ambassadors, and Defence Attaches of various countries also graced the occasion. The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai Nigeria. Maj Gen CG Musa, Sector Commanders, Commissioners and a host of important dignitaries were in attendance.
The high points of the event are the decoration of outgoing MSOs with MNJTF Medals, launching of MNJTF Magazine, presentations of Souvenir and Medal to SGOH, presentation of plaques to MSOs, group photograph and refreshment.
