The Multinational Joint Task Force authorities in Cameroon and Niger have announced the surrender of at least 69 Boko Haram terrorists and their families.
The mass surrender is a result of a successful operation by the MNJTF, a coalition of forces from countries in the Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.
The operation, which aims to combat terrorism and restore peace in the region, has been instrumental in pressuring insurgents to lay down their arms.
Chief Military Public Information Officer, HQ MNJTF, Lieutenant Colonel Ndjamena Chad, in a statement on X, Tuesday, said the MNJTF has successfully facilitated the surrender of more terrorists while rescuing others from hideouts between 1 and 6 July 2024.
The MNJTF’s intensified military efforts and strategic operations have led to increased defections within Boko Haram ranks.
According to official reports, the surrendering individuals include combatants, women, and children, indicating a significant weakening of the group’s operational capacity.
The statement read, “This development is seen as a major victory for the MNJTF and a hopeful step towards stabilizing the region and ensuring the safety of its inhabitants. In Sector 1 Cameroon, on 6 July 2024, a combined maritime operation by Cameroonian and Nigerian forces led to the surrender of 56 Boko Haram terrorists. This group included 13 adult men accompanied by 43 women and children.
“Additionally, on the same date, 12 family members of terrorists, including 5 women and 7 children, were rescued. Both the surrendered individuals and the rescued family members were handed over to the troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, in Gamboru and Banki for further action.
“On 1 July 2024, troops of Sector 4, Niger Republic, received 24-year-old Tijjani Muhammad, who surrendered with one AK-47 rifle, 4 magazines, and numerous 7.62mm rounds. He reported that he had escaped from a Boko Haram camp in Libye Soroa, driven by the current Operation Lake Sanity 2,” Chad said in the statement.
The statement further noted that 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,” it stated.
