Following recent arrests of some of the Boko Haram/ISWAP Suspects, the Multinational Joint Task Force has proceeded to step up operations against terrorists, including their logistic suppliers. When Muhammad Sabo and Sarki Danladi, two accused BHT logistics suppliers, were apprehended on March 5 while attempting to leave Munguno town for the Tumbuns to join the terrorists, the situation began to escalate. Two blankets, two fishermen’s identification cards, three wrist watches, two access passes that were given by the terrorists, 20 empty sack bags, some personal apparel, and other items were found on the suspects. The accused are currently being questioned.
According to a statement given to journalists in N’Djamena, Chad, Lieutenant Colonel Kamarudeen Adegoke, Chief Military Public Information Officer MNJTF, troops also detained two suspects on March 4 during a stop-and-search operation along the Main Supply Route Monguno-Kekeno-Cross-Kauwa-Baga. The suspects were believed to be transporting some packaging materials and other logistics to the terrorists. In a similar manner, on March 5th, Abubakar Usman was detained along with a First Bank ATM card and an invoice containing lists of goods to be purchased and possibly delivered to the terrorists. The suspect admitted during the initial questioning that he had supplied the terrorists with various logistics.
Similar to this, on March 6th, soldiers detained Abubakar Vacdor, a suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP Suspects and logistics courier, as he travelled to the terrorists from Borehole village Monguno. Four packs of fishing hooks, four fishing threads, four mudu of cornflower, two mosquito nets, cooking pots, two knives, one cutlass, one identification card, clothes, and only twenty-four thousand Naira ( N24,000.00 ) were found on the suspects. Investigations are being conducted on the subject.
Similar to this, on March 8th, 2019, while travelling from Maiduguri to Monguno, Sector 3 soldiers stationed at Forward Operation Base Gajiram detained Tijani Adamu, a Boko Haram/ISWAP Suspects and supplier of logistics. One electronic pova and the amount of Eleven Thousand Two Hundred and Eighty Naira ( N11,280,000 ) were among the items found on him. The culprit was taken into custody alongside Mr. Aliu Yusuf, a driver who lives in Mongunu. He was found to be in possession of 2 sacks of corn, 5 yam tubers, 1 Jerrycan of groundnut oil, and 1 baby diaper. Other items include 3 bath soaps, 5 cereal sachets, 3 hijabs, 3 bags of sugar, 1 bag of cornflower, 2 cartons of Maggi, 2 cartons of detergents, 4 packs of marches, and the amount of Twenty Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira (N27,700.00). While the investigation is continuing, the items and the suspects who were arrested are being held in custody.
Another event was that on March 5th, two BHT escapees, Bakote Mohammed and Baba Kura Hala, turned themselves in to the Sector 3 troops stationed at Kijimatari in Monguno. Currently, profiles are being created for both. A Boko Haram terrorist by the name of Banna Modu turned himself in to MNJTF Sector 3 stationed at Kijimatari in Monguno on the same day. After operating in the general regions of Mafa, Dikwa, Maiduguri, and Gajram, the terrorist claimed to have lost interest in the conflict. Similar to this, while on a fighting patrol, members of Sector 4 MNJTF Quick Response Force Niger stopped a Golf vehicle that was carrying 24 by 25 liters of gasoline. Investigations are being conducted on the subject. Additionally, during a nighttime patrol along the Ngagam-Djalori Axis, Sector 4 MNJTF soldiers were able to rescue 3 women and their 4 children. The ladies came from Sambisa Forest. According to a preliminary inquiry, the families were leaving Sambisa forest to escape the fighting between the BHT and ISWAP. A related positive event was that on March 8th, 23 MNJTF troops
A clearance exercise was carried out by Sector 3 Nigeria deployed at Damasak. They intercepted 43 women and 30 children from the BHT Families during the raid. They are presently being profiled and receiving medical care. Similar to this, large groups of people have been seen moving continuously from the Sambisa forests to the lake Chad basin over the course of the past month as a result of infighting between the Boko haram and ISWAP terrorist groups, effects of MNJTF and other national operations bombardment, and especially effects of air strikes. Over 900 people, including women, children, and elderly people, who were thought to be insurgent families and collaborators, have been detained as a result of 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. Collaboration with national authorities, followed by profiling and handover, is continuing.
In his message to the troops, the Force Commander MNJTF praised the efforts of the troops and especially the commanders for their coordination of these operations. He urged the troops not to relent in degrading the BHT/ISWAP logistics couriers, as doing so would have a positive overall effect on our counter-insurgency operations. He urged them to unite and deliver a fatal strike to the insurgents, noting that the insurgency is on the verge of collapsing. Reassuring them that Headquarters MNJTF would always be there for them, he urged the people of the Lake Chad Basin to be vigilant and alert the security forces to any suspect activity.
