ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have in continuation of their efforts to flush out fleeing Boko Haram terrorists from the Lake Chad Basin Area of Responsibility (AOR), has cleared terrorists from six villages along the Nigerian-Cameounian border.
The Chief Military Public Information Officer, MNJTF, Col. Colonel Muhammad Dole, in a statement on Wednesday, said the troops of Sector 1 with its relocated Tactical Headquarters in Makary, Northern Cameroun intensified the clearance operations along the borders between Nigeria and Cameroun to block the fleeing terrorists.
Recently, Dole said, the terrorists in attempt to escape the firepower of MNJTF troops were migrating to some villages adjacent to the Sector 1 AOR.
He disclosed that the troops, acting on credible information, “successfully cleared the six villages occupied by the terrorists, seized some logistic equipment and apprehended Twenty Four suspected Boko Haram accomplices”.
According to him, the cleared villages include Sagui, Kirta-Woulgo, Gore Mahamat, Gore Blangafe, Chaugry and Damboure.
He also listed the recovered equipment to include 20 Outboat Engines, two Motorcycles, nine Generating sets, a Solar panel, Grinding machine, Handset, Flags and some Islamic religious books.
Dole however, confirmed that one soldier was killed by Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and another fatally wounded and lost his one of his lower limbs during the operation.
He stated that the Commander, MNJTF, Major General Lamidi Adeosun, while addressing the troops during his operational assessment tour in Makary, commended their display of exceptional bravery and charged them to keep up the good work.
The MNJTF spokesman said that Adeosun also encouraged the traditional authorities in the area to set up vigilante groups to compliment the effort of the security forces.
Equally, he said, on a similar visit to Sector 2 troops (Chad) at their temporary Harbour Area in Littri, the Commander expressed delight for their initial operational exploits, which despite difficult terrains and other operational challenges were able to clear terrorists from some villages on the Lake Chad Islands.
“He encouraged them to maintain their high fighting spirit and keep up the momentum of the operation despite the challenges of the slow go terrains,” he stated.