No fewer than 210 Boko Haram terrorists, including conscripted fighters and their families, have surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operating under Sector 2 in Bol, Baga Sola.
A statement by the Chief Military Public Information Officer Lt.-Col. Olaniyi Osoba said the surrendered terrorists confessed to have participated in various terrorist acts along the Bakatolerom, Barkalam, Litri, and Kaiga Ngbouboun axis of Lake Chad.
Lt.-Col. Osoba said the mass surrender followed intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the region.
According to him, 10 assorted weapons of various calibres were recovered from the terrorists.
The Commander Sector 2/Operation Lake Chad, Major General Moussa Haussa, commended the troops for their commitment in the fight against terrorism and urged them to maintain the momentum in their operations, emphasising that there is no future for the menace in the region.
He assured that those who surrendered will be treated humanely and will participate in the MNJTF’s deradicalisation programme.
The Governor of the Region of Lake Chad, Brigadier General Saleh Haggar Tidjani, welcomed the surrendered terrorists and stated that plans were underway to provide the former terrorists with skill acquisition programme to facilitate their reintegration into society.
According to the Governor, the initiative aims to provide surrendered terrorists with sustainable livelihoods and support their transition back to peaceful civilian life.
“This surrender represents a major blow to Boko Haram’s operations in the Lake Chad region and underscores the effectiveness of the MNJTF’s comprehensive approach, combining military pressure with efforts to encourage defections and facilitate reintegration,” the Governor said.
He reassured that the MNJTF remains committed to working with regional partners to bring lasting peace and security to the Lake Chad Basin.
