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Tag: Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)

  • MNJTF eliminates 27 Boko Haram Terrorists

    Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have neutralized 27 Boko Haram terrorists in coordinated operations in the northern parts of Borno state.

    Spokesman of the MNJTF, Colonel Timothy Antigha, said the troops also recovered armed and ammunition from them.

    Colonel Antigha explained in a statement that the operations leading to the onslaught against the terrorists were in tandem with the resolutions and agreements reached by the Heads of State of Countries of the Lake Chad Basin to create a safe and secure environment in areas affected by Boko Haram activities.

    Colonel Antigha said : “You will recall that at the summit of the Heads of State and Government of countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission held in N’Djamena, Chad, last November, multilateral agreements were fine – tuned and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was repositioned to deliver on its mandate, which is to:

    “Create a safe and secure environment in the areas affected by the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorists groups, in order to significantly reduce violence against civilians and other abuses, including sexual and gender based violence, in full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law and the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, among others.

    “In pursuance of this mandate, the MNJTF launched Operation YANCIN TAFKI on January 22, 2019.

    Read Also: Troops kill 27 Boko Haram terrorists, recover arms, ammunition

    “Accordingly, varying degrees of successes continues to be recorded since the operation started. Over the weekend troops of the MNJTF again inflicted heavy human and equipment casualties on Boko Haram Terrorists in an engagement along Bukar Mariam, Saada and Tumbum Babba axis in Northern Borno. ”

    Colonel Antigha said 27 terrorists were neutrilized while five AK 47 riffles were recovered from them.

    He listed other weapons recovered as one AR Galil Riffles, Three G3 Riffles, two General Purpose Machine Gun .

    Others are two Anti-Aircraft Gun, four Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG 7) Tubes, one M21 Riffles, RPG 7 Bombs, ,Assorted Ammunition – over 1000 Rounds.

    According to Col. Antigha one Toyota L/C – was destroyed, one Nissan Gun Truck,  one Toyota Gun Truck and a Motor Cycle were also destroyed during the encounter

    He further said: “In the light of the forgoing, MNJTF wishes to emphasize that  Boko Haram represents evil and an existential threat to everyone in the Lake Chad Area, irrespective of religion or creed.

    “Therefore, the general public and the media in particular are enjoined to remain in solidarity with the military, as the ongoing Operation YANCIN TAFKI is intensified.

    “The MNJTF and national forces are fighting a just war and will certainly conquer what is left of Boko Haram establishment.”

     

  • Troops cut Boko Haram’s supplies

    Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have destroyed over 70 gun trucks, fuel dumps, vehicles and other facilities of the Boko Haram terrorists through the massive firepower of “Operation Yancin Tafki”.

    Spokesperson for the task force, Colonel Timothy Antigha said in a statement that through massive operations, which involved the Air Task Force component, the terrorists and their leadership are now in disarray.

    He added that Boko Haram fighters have been overwhelmed while their supply routes have been blocked, leading to frustrations and weariness among them.

    Colonel Antigha said: “As an aftermath of sustained air and land operations of the ongoing ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’, information from captured and defected Boko Haram fighters indicates that the leadership of Boko Haram terror network has been overwhelmed and are currently in disarray.

    “The former fighters, who are receiving humane attention, further divulged that morale and fighting spirit of Boko Haram fighters is very low as a result of growing insecurity and the inability to replenish stranded fighters in the islands with food, medicine and ammunition.

    “It would be recalled that an integral part of ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’ has been a series of well-coordinated day and night Human Intelligence as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted by the Air Forces of the Lake Chad Basin countries; Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria, leading to successful and devastating air interdictions which have destroyed Boko Haram logistic facilities and fighters in Tumbum Gini, Abadam, Arege, Tumbun Rego and Dagaya environs  between March 7  and 11, 2019.

    “Additionally, in the last four weeks of the operation, about 70 Boko Haram vehicles; mostly gun trucks, facilities such as fuel dumps, weapons and ammunition have been destroyed.

    “Furthermore, since the commencement of ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’ several terrorists have surrendered while others are battle-weary and have indicated interest to surrender. Morale of fighters is at its lowest, while desperation has also set in, leading to intrigues and in-fighting.”

    He added: “Reliable sources say internal crisis led to change of Boko Haram leadership on March 3, 2019. It could be recalled that the  Islamic State West Africa Province announced the sack of the former Boko Haram Chief, Abu Mus’ab Al Barnawi and the appointment of Abu Abdullahi Ibn Umar Al Barnawi.

    “The frequent execution of Boko Haram Commanders and fighters, which have been observed in the past few months as well as the recent replacement of its leadership, are clear indications of the effectiveness of recent past and ongoing ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’.

    “The Multinational Joint Task Force is, therefore, poised to sustain current operations until Boko Haram capitulates and its leadership brought to justice.”

  • Boko Haram Insurgency: President Buhari heads to Chad

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday departed Abuja for N’Djamena, Chad, to preside over the Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari, in his capacity as Chairman of the Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), summoned the meeting meant to find lasting solution to the menace of Boko Haram insurgency.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja said the meeting of the Heads of States and Governments of the LCBC would take place in N’Djamena, Chad on Thursday.

    Also, the President of Benin Republic, a troops-contributing country, has also been invited to attend the meeting.

    The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), and national operations of the affected countries have appreciably degraded the capacity of Boko Haram terrorists, although the insurgents still retain the capacity to attack isolated targets in desperate search for supplies.

    According to Adesina, the one-day meeting will review the security situation in the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

    He said it would also adopt measures to enhance the capacity of the MNJTF to meet the challenges of securing the areas.

    Read Also: Metele Attack: 23 soldiers killed, Boko Haram uses drones-Buratai

    “The presidents of the LCBC member countries of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and the Central African Republic have been invited to attend the meeting.

    “The President of Benin Republic, a troops-contributing country has also been invited to attend.

    “The MNJTF and the national operations of the affected countries have appreciably degraded the capacity of Boko Haram terrorists, although the insurgents still retain the capacity to attack isolated targets in desperate search for supplies,’’ Adesina said.

    Millions of people in Africa’s Lake Chad region (north-east Nigeria and parts of Niger, Chad and Cameroon) are facing a profound and protracted crisis driven by extreme poverty, climate change and violent conflicts according to the UN.

    The crisis, the world body added has led to the internal displacement of 2.4 million people, the destruction of livelihoods, human rights abuses, and the disruption of health, education and other basic services.

    More than 10 million vulnerable people need life-saving assistance and protection today. Women and children are particularly hard hit.

    In Feb. 2017, a conference on the Lake Chad region, co-hosted by Germany, Nigeria, Norway, and the United Nations took place in Oslo where donors pledged 672 million dollars to emergency assistance and support in 2017 and beyond.

  • Buhari convenes meeting of Heads of State and Government of LCBC

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), has convened a consultation of Heads of State and Government of the LCBC scheduled to take place in N’Djamena, Chad, on November 29, 2018.

    Read Also:Buhari reiterates commitment toward improved welfare for Army

    The one-day meeting, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, will review the security situation in the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

    According to him, the meeting is also to adopt measures to enhance the capacity of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to meet the challenges of securing the areas.

    The statement reads “The presidents of the LCBC member countries of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and the Central African Republic have been invited to attend the meeting. The President of Benin Republic, a troops-contributing country, has also been invited to attend.

    “The MNJTF and the national operations of the affected countries have appreciably degraded the capacity of Boko Haram terrorists, although the insurgents still retain the capacity to attack isolated targets in desperate search for supplies,” he stated.

  • FG uncovers IPOB’s slush account in Paris

    FG uncovers IPOB’s slush account in Paris

    Following intelligence reports, FG has located a slush account in Paris to which some Nigerians have made huge deposits in support of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    It has also uncovered how some IPOB members have invaded Nigerian embassies in Hong Kong and Spain and created some scenes in the last 72 hours.

    The development, security sources said, was an indication of the desperation of IPOB and the justification for the proscription of the organisation.

    But the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer on Friday met with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Although the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders was kept under wraps, Gauer was said to have reassured the Federal Government that France would not support any terrorist group.

    It was learnt that the French government promised to take action as soon as the IPOB’s slush account was known to it.

    A top security source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Intelligence gathering has led to the discovery of an account in Paris into which some Nigerians in the Diaspora remit funds to support IPOB.

    “From the said account, funds were being drawn for the activities of IPOB at home and abroad. The relevant security agencies did a thorough job and provided incontrovertible evidence on the basis of which the government proscribed the terrorist organisation.

    “These Nigerians in the Diaspora are using France as a clearing house.

    “Investigations also confirmed inflows into the account from Holland, Hungary, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore and other parts of Europe.

    “In fact, a football tournament was recently organised in Senegal to raise funds for IPOB.

    “As a matter of fact, the account is being used to get money from a lot of people in the Diaspora.

    “What many Nigerians did not know is that the Minister of Information and Culture was talking on the basis of credible intelligence report.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “With cooperation by the international community, especially relevant countries, we will soon get the list of all the people remitting funds into the account in Paris.”

    But the government was also concerned that IPOB members were becoming desperate after the clampdown on the terrorist group.

    The source said: “IPOB members are becoming desperate in the last 72 hours. About two days ago, some members of the terrorist group breezed into our Embassy in Hong Kong under the pretence of renewing their passports but ended up staging a protest.

    “The IPOB members also demonstrated at our embassy in Spain a few days ago.”

    At press time, the details of the session between the French Ambassador and the Minister of Information and Culture were yet to be formally released.

    But a source said: “The Ambassador actually told the minister that France would never condone the activities of any terrorist group, including IPOB.

    “He recalled that France has always been at the receiving end of terrorists and so cannot under any circumstances back IPOB.

    “He restated the determination of the French government to support any policy or initiative which will strengthen Nigeria’s unity.

    “He actually made it known that his government will not back secessionist agitation in this country.”

    On the account in Paris, the Ambassador was said to have told the minister that France was “not aware of the account, but Nigeria should make a formal report.”

    The source said the minister also reiterated that he “never said that France was supporting IPOB, because there is a robust relationship between France and Nigeria.

    “We can never accuse France of collaborating with terrorists, because it has been assisting us in tackling Boko Haram insurgency.

    “France played a major role in setting up and managing the operation of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).”

  • Readout of UN Secretary-General’s meeting with Buhari

    Readout of UN Secretary-General’s meeting with Buhari

    The Secretary-General of the United Nations on Wednesday met with H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The Secretary-General commended the President’s efforts against corruption and insecurity and to promote economic development.

    The two leaders discussed efforts by Nigeria and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram, in the North – East of the country. The Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s continued support for those efforts and underscored the need to ensure full respect of human rights, international humanitarian and refugee law in all operations.

    The Secretary-General thanked President Buhari for Nigeria’s invaluable contribution to international peace and security, including political mediation in the region.

  • Troops battle terrorists in Borno

    Troops battle terrorists in Borno

    Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have captured Mallam Fatori in northern most part of Borno after a fierce battle closely covered by air operations.

    According to a statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, the acting Director, Army Public Relations and issued on Wednesday, the town was captured under “Operation Gama Aiki” of the Operation Lafiya Dole.

    Usman said that the troops killed several of the Boko Haram terrorists in the resulting encounter, who subsequently withdrew “to a vantage position”.

    ‪”However, the terrorists reinforced around the border with Niger Republic.

    ‪”This was while the troops were consolidating on this success.

    ‪”The Operation is continuing,” the army spokesman said.