By Nkechi Eze
In a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the Lake Chad Basin, 210 Boko Haram terrorists comprising fighters and their families have surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operating under Sector 2 in Bol, Baga Sola.
The development follows a series of intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations conducted by MNJTF troops across key terrorist strongholds.
In a statement signed by the Chief Military Public Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the surrendered individuals confessed to participating in various terrorist activities across the Bakatolerom, Barkalam, Litri, and Kaiga Ngbouboun axis of the Lake Chad area. Troops also recovered ten assorted weapons of different calibres during the operation.
Commander of Sector 2/Operation Lake Chad, Major General Moussa Haussa, praised the troops for their resilience and commitment in the fight against terrorism, urging them to sustain the momentum. He emphasized that terrorism has no future in the region and assured that the surrendered individuals would be treated humanely and enrolled in the MNJTF’s deradicalization programme.
Also speaking, the Governor of the Region of Lake Chad, Brigadier General Saleh Haggar Tidjani, welcomed the former fighters and revealed that plans were underway to enroll them in skill acquisition programmes as part of a broader reintegration initiative. According to him, this effort is aimed at equipping them with the tools needed to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society peacefully.
The MNJTF described the mass surrender as a significant setback for Boko Haram’s operational capability in the region and a validation of its multi-pronged strategy that combines sustained military pressure with initiatives aimed at encouraging defections and promoting long-term peace.
The Force reiterated its commitment to working closely with regional stakeholders to ensure lasting peace, stability, and security in the Lake Chad Basin.
