The Force Commander MNJTF, Major General Abdul Khalifah has gone to visit to various areas of operations including Mallam Fatori , base of the 68 Battalion where he was accompanied by the Deputy Force Commander, Brigadier General Abdou Harouna Assumane.
During the visit, the Commander who held an interactive session with the men of the Forward Operations Base was briefed on the operations in the area. Similarly, he was also in Mallam Fatori to inspect and interact with the Chadian Contingent for Operation Lake Sanity who are newly joining the mission.
He urged them to be courageous, lethal and professional in the conduct of the operations and wished them well. Thereafter, an operational meeting was conducted by the FC with all the officers in the Base. The obviously elated troops promised to make the MNJTF proud in the operations.
The Force Commander also held a meeting with all the Commanders of the MNJTF drawn from all the Sectors. The meeting was aimed at appraising the operations so far and to enhance preparations for the next decisive stage.
General Khalifah praised the courage, commitment and doggedness of the troops so far and the various commanders for their leadership but quickly reminded the meeting that the task was not over yet as the criminal Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists still remain active. See below:
Reviewing the Operations so far, the FC stated that over 30 encounters have been recorded so far with the criminals running away or neutralized in most of them and their equipment destroyed or captured. An increasing dependence on improvised explosive devices (IED)by the desperate criminals was noted and necessary counter measures were proffered.
About 4 IED making factories were destroyed in the course of the operations so far. He praised the decisive role of the Air component of the MNJTF/ OP Hadin Kai for the remarkable role played in taking out several enemy camps, equipment and commanders latest amoung whom is Abu Ibrahim who was an ISWAP leader( Khalifa) in the Lake Chad Tunbumas and was a leader before in the Timbuktu Gen areas.
He expressed happiness with the synergy and cooperation with Op Hadin Kai and said “over 52,000 terrorists comprising fighters, those conscripted by force, and their families have surrendered in the MNJTF and Op Hadin Kai areas of operational responsibility and urged those still in the bushes to lay down their arms and surrender”
“Over 300 terrorists were neutralized either in direct combat with the MNJTF troops or as a result of combined air strikes across the lake Chad Basin. He said the entry of the Chadian contingent provides additional firepower in terms of armoured personnel Carriers, MRAPS and other combat enablers and urged that the criminal Boko Haram Terrorists/ ISWAP be hunted and wiped out wherever they are. He also praised the maritime efforts so far and said he looks forward to more successes in the next few days and weeks”.
“Regrettably, the Operation recorded about 7 casualties comprising 6 soldiers and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force supporting the operations. Several troops have also been injured but are recuperating well”
He prayed for the repose of the heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice and quick recovery for the injured and once again called on the terrorists be they Boko Haram faction or ISWAP to abandon the criminal organization and surrender like thousands of their compatriots have done before it is too late.
General Khalifah commended the officers and men of the MNJTF for their commitment and gallantry and said history would remember their role in ending the scourge of terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief of Military Public Information, Headquarters MNJTF N’Djamena Chad, Lieutenant Colonel Kamarudeen Adegoke.
