TROOPS OF THE MULTI NATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE CONTINUE THEIR CLEARANCE OPERATIONS IN THE LAKE CHAD BASIN

Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) comprising Nigerian and Chadian troops of Operation LAKE SANITY continued their operations against Boko Haram/ISWAP in the Lake Chad Basin Islands. On 10 June 22, the force conducted clearance operations to Kangarwa in kukawa LGA of Borno state and cleared the village including surrounding localities of Metele and Dogon Chuku. The troops made contact with Boko Haram/ ISWAP elements in the general area of Dogon Chuku and after a fierce exchange of fire the Boko Haram tried to flee. The gallant troops neutralized several of the Boko Haram as they withdrew off balance with their casualties. The troops also recovered one guntruck, one 81 MM Mortar, one Dushka gun and several logistics items. There was no casualty on the part of MNJTF troops. Troops continued their advance to clear Metele as the criminals continue to flee deeper into the Tumbuns.

Relatedly, troops of MNJTF comprising troops of Sector 3 continued to dominate their firm base in the northern part of the Tumbuns. The troops conducted clearance operation to Tunbun Fulani and the general areas South of Arege but the BHTs fled on sighting the approaching troops. The force discovered a decomposing corpse and a DUSHKA Gun of a suspected Boko Haram / ISWAP terrorist who was neutralized during a previous encounter in the vicinity. Additionally, troops of Sector 4 MNJTF deployed at Chettimari in Niger Republic conducted a cordon and search operation West of GOROROP village gen area. The search operation followed information from an arrested ISWAP Fighter who confessed to be an active member of ISWAP. Several weapons including one RPG Tube, one AK 47 Rifle, 182 rounds of ammunition and 9 AK 47 Magazines were recovered from the hideout. These successful operations and recovery of arms, ammunition and equipment have further degraded the capacity of the Boko Haram/ISWAP in the Lake Chad Basin.

Meanwhile, the terrorists have been making frantic efforts through propaganda to exaggerate their capacity to attack MNJTF forces to no avail. In a recent message ISWAP claimed to have attacked and killed a sizable number of Chadian MNJTF troops operating in Chad. This was a clearly a desperate attempt by the ISWAP leaders to create a false impression to hoodwink their fighters who are already showing signs of giving up.

The only attack was an IED incident where 5 Chadian soldiers were injured with none killed while the ISWAP fighters fled from the reinforcement of troops to the area.

The Force Commander MNJTF is using this opportunity to urge troops not to be distracted but to remain dogged as the Boko Haram/ISWAP are continually degraded and their capacity to resist is being diminished. He once again called on the remaining terrorists hibernating in the Tumbuns and other parts of the operation area to come out and surrender like thousands of their colleagues who are currently being rehabilitated before it is too late.

(See attached pictures)