Over 200 Boko Haram Fighters Surrender to Joint Forces in Lake Chad

By Segun Ojumu

Bol, Chad – More than 200 Boko Haram fighters, including conscripted individuals and their families, have surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad region. This significant development marks a notable success in the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the area.

The mass surrender took place in Bol, Baga Sola, within Sector 2 of the MNJTF’s operational zone. It follows intensified military operations, both kinetic and non-kinetic, carried out by combined forces from Nigeria’s Army, Air Force, and Navy under Operation Hadin Kai, led by Theatre Commander Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the Chief Military Public Information Officer for the MNJTF, the surrendered individuals admitted to participating in various attacks across the Bakatolerom, Barkalam, Litri, and Kaiga Ngbouboun areas of Lake Chad. Ten assorted weapons were recovered from the group.

Major General Moussa Haussa, Commander of Sector 2/Operation Lake Chad, commended his troops for their unwavering commitment and urged them to maintain pressure on the insurgents. He stressed that “there is no future for terrorism in the region” and assured that the former fighters would be treated humanely and integrated into the MNJTF’s deradicalisation programme.

Brigadier General Saleh Haggar Tidjani, the Governor of the Lake Chad Region, also welcomed the surrendered individuals. He announced plans to enrol them in skills acquisition programmes designed to support their reintegration into society, aiming to provide sustainable livelihoods and facilitate their return to peaceful civilian life.

The MNJTF described the surrender as a “major blow to Boko Haram’s operations in the Lake Chad region,” highlighting the effectiveness of its strategy, which combines military pressure with rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. The force reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with regional partners to bring lasting peace and security to the Lake Chad Basin.