Sixty members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) have surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) under Operation Lake Sanity II. The surrender, which took place between July 1 and July 6, 2024, was facilitated by MNJTF troops who also rescued others from their hideouts.
A statement released by Lt Col Abdullahi Abubakar, the MNJTF Military Public Information Officer, detailed the events. On July 6, 2024, a combined maritime operation by Cameroonian and Nigerian forces in Sector 1, Cameroon, led to the surrender of 56 Boko Haram terrorists. This group comprised 13 adult men and 43 women and children. Additionally, on the same day, 12 family members of terrorists, including five women and seven children, were rescued. These individuals were handed over to the troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, in Gamboru and Banki for further action.
Lt Col Abubakar also reported that on July 1, 2024, troops in Sector 4, Niger Republic, received a surrender from 24-year-old Tijjani Muhammad, who turned himself in with an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, and numerous 7.62mm rounds. Muhammad revealed that he had escaped from a Boko Haram camp in Libye Soroa due to the ongoing Operation Lake Sanity II.
“The increasing number of surrenders significantly weakens the operational capability of Boko Haram and undermines the morale of their remaining fighters.
Other terrorists are strongly urged to take advantage of the opportunity to lay down their arms and surrender to the authorities for lasting peace in the Lake Chad basin region,” Lt Col Abubakar added.
The MNJTF’s efforts in Operation Lake Sanity II highlight the ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in the Lake Chad basin, encouraging more insurgents to abandon their activities and seek a peaceful resolution.
