Troops from Nigeria (Sector 3 Monguno) and Niger (Sector 4 Differ) in a Multinational Joint Task Force effort neutralized 22 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists at Lake Chad, in the course of a special operation along the Nigerian-Niger borders at the edge of Borno State.
In a statement on the 30th of December, 2021 from the Multinational Join Task Force headquarters in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, it was stated that the troops launched an offensive against Boko Haram/ISWAP camps in Malam Fatori along the shores of Lake Chad.
Col. Muhammad Dole, the spokesman of the force, stated that troops were greeted with stern resistance from the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, who used buried Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) in Operation Sharan Fage.
He stated however that troops brought superior fire power to bear on the insurgents forcing them to abandon their enclaves.
“In the course of this operation, 22 Boko Haram terrorists were neutralized, five of their gun trucks, five motorcycles and several logistic Bunkers used by the terrorists, were destroyed.” Col. Muhammad Dole said.
He added that eight AK47 assault rifles were recovered, although there were losses on the side of the Joint Task Force, as 6 soldiers were killed and 16 officers were injured.
“Regrettably, 6 members of the JTF (2 officers and 4 other ranks) from both countries paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty with about 16 wounded in action.” He said.
Despite the losses it was still a victory for the Joint Task Force as 17 suspects were also arrested in that general area.
The Multinational Joint Task Force also cleared out the hideouts in Arege, Asaga, Bana, Gashigar, Kainoa, Kamagunma and the surrounding areas.
It has been reported that Malam Fatori, which is situated on the border of Nigeria and Niger Republic about 220 kilometers to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, has been attacked numerous times, and has been seized by Boko Haram twice.
During the debriefing at Diffa in Niger, the Force Commander, Maj General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim, commended the troops on their victory.
General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim was born in Kaduna and only took over in the month of August, 2021. He hailed them for their courage in the face of danger, and he also paid tribute to those who had given their lives for the cause.
Also present at the debriefing was the Deputy Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, General Abdou Assoumane.