According to the Multinational Joint Task Force, its Sectors 3 and 4 troops have apprehended over 900 suspected family members and collaborators of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents.
This was stated on Wednesday by Lt.-Col. Kamarudeen Adegoke, the MNJTF Chief Military Public Information Officer in N’Djamena, Chad.
Adegoke claimed that infighting between the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups, as well as the effects of the MNJTF and other national operations bombardment, particularly air strikes, had triggered their movement.
He revealed that large groups of people had been moving continuously from the Sambisa forests to the Lake Chad basin over the last month.
“In a joint coordinated operations between Sectors 3 and 4 of the MNJTF in the Kamadougu Yobe River general area, along the Nigeria/Niger common border areas, more than 900 people, made up of women, children and elderly people suspected to be families and collaborators of the insurgents, have been arrested.
“Collaboration with national authorities, followed by profiling and handover, is ongoing. Also, troops of Sector 4 conducted a night patrol along Ngagam-Djalori Axis where they rescued three women alongside their four children who were fleeing from the fighting between the Boko Haram and ISWAP from Sambisa forest.
In a related encouraging development, Sector 3 Nigeria troops deployed at Damasak intercepted 70 terrorists’ family members, including 43 women and 30 children, on March 8. They’re currently getting medical attention and being profiled,” he said.
Adegoke explained that the MNJTF troops of Sector 3 Nigeria began to respond to the emerging situation on March 5.
He stated that this was in response to the arrest of two suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ logistics suppliers and collaborators, Muhammed Sabo and Sarki Danladi, as they attempted to leave Munguno town for the Tumbuns to join the terrorists.
He also stated that the suspects were found with two blankets, two fishermen identity cards, three wristwatches, two access passes issued by the terrorists, 20 empty sack bags, and some personal clothing.
On March 4, troops conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Main Supply Route Monguno-Kekeno-Cross Kauwa-Baga arrested two suspects transporting wrappers and other logistics to terrorists.
“In the same vein, on March 5, we arrested one Abubakar Usman with First Bank ATM card and an invoice containing the lists of items to procure and possibly deliver to the terrorists. During the preliminary interrogation, the suspect admitted to being involved in the supply of several logistics to the terrorists,” he added.
According to an MNJTF spokesman, troops have recently apprehended some key terrorists’ logistics suppliers in various locations. He stated that the suspects were found with fishing hooks, fishing threads, corn flower, mosquito nets, cooking pots, clothing, and cash.
The Force Commander, MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. AbdulKhalifa Ibrahim, praised the troops and commanders for their efforts in effectively coordinating the operations in his message to the troops.
Ibrahim urged them not to give up on their goal of degrading the BHT/ISWAP logistics couriers, which would have a positive impact on counterinsurgency operations overall.
He stated that the end of the insurgency was near and urged the troops to work together to deal a fatal blow to the insurgents.
He reassured them of the MNJTF’s unwavering support and urged the people of the Lake Chad Basin to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security forces.
NAN
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