The Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Governors’ Forum (LCBCGF) and Governor of Yobe State, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni has pledged maximum support to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to strengthen security operations and combat terrorism across the Lake Chad Basin.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Chief Military Public Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Iweha Ikedichi Onyenonachi, Buni made the commitment shortly after receiving a security briefing on the Lake Chad Basin Area at the Headquarters of the MNJTF in N’Djamena, Chad, on the sidelines of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.
The Governor commended the MNJTF for the tangible improvement in security across the Lake Chad Basin Area, but stressed that more needed to be done to create the secure environment required for the full impact of developmental activities to be realised.
Buni particularly called for the deployment of troops to islands within the Lake Chad Basin, especially territories belonging to Nigeria and other countries in the region, urging the MNJTF to expedite action in this regard.
He also disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the political leadership of the Republic of Niger regarding its possible return to the MNJTF.
According to him, the absence of Nigerien forces had created a porous area which terrorists could exploit to hibernate, move freely and engage in cross-border criminal activities before launching attacks in other areas.
The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the exclusive funding of Operation LAKE SANITY III on behalf of the Troops Contributing Countries, describing the gesture as evidence of the President’s determination to improve security across the Lake Chad Basin.
He said he would brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu upon his return to Nigeria, on areas requiring further improvement to facilitate increased socio-economic and commercial activities across the region.
Buni also commended the foresight of the founding fathers of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the MNJTF, pledging to mobilise the necessary political will to sustain the Task Force’s operations.
He further pledged support towards curbing the infiltration and activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) across the Lake Chad Basin.
