Troops of the Multinational Joint task Force (MNJTF) say they have annihilated Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Lake Chad region.
At least 100 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters, including 10 key commanders in Lake Chad region, were killed in its all-out offensive against the terrorists.
The Chief of Military Public Information for MNJTF, Col. Muhammad Dole, gave a lowdown of the troops’ victory in a statement on Sunday.
He said the forces successfully hit the terrorists’ camps in a well coordinated land and air offensives.
Dole said the offensives were conducted under “Operation Lake Sanity”, joint operations involving the MNJTF troops from Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon and troops from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK- Nigeria).
He said the operation also included the combined Air Task Forces of MNJTF and OPHK other security agencies and the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF).
Dole said the troops raided the insurgents’ dens in Zanari, Arina Woje, which served as major fabrication workshops, and several other locations around the Islands from different corridors in the last one week.
According to him, the terrorists were neutralised following intelligence -driven lethal air strikes in the Lake Chad islands by the combined air taskforces.
“Some of the commanders include Abubakar Dan Buduma, Abubakar Shuwa, Abu Ali and Abu Jubrilla among others.
“Relatedly, sophisticated weapons of different calibres including a 105 mm artillery piece, several canoes/boats, motorcycles, bicycles, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) making factories and bunkers were destroyed.
“In the course of the operation, significant number of innocent citizens, mostly women and children held captive by the criminals, were rescued.
“Large quantities of food stuff (grains), fuel dumps, illicit drugs, terrorists’ uniforms and other households materials were recovered and destroyed immediately,” he said.
MNJTF spokesman said that logistics and foodstuffs, including several bags of maize and beans, motorcycles, some immobilised military and civil vehicles, were discovered at Fedondiya settlement in a clearance operation.
He said equipment like grinding machines, vehicle fabrication tools and military uniforms ,were also destroyed and set ablaze in the location.