Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operating under Sector III Operation Hadin Kai on Tuesday rescued 38 hostages and disrupted a Boko Haram logistics syndicate during intensified clearance operations in the Lake Chad region.
According to a statement from Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, spokesman for the MNJTF Headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad, the operation took place in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno on the Baga axis.
He said that the MNJTF troops intercepted a group of Boko Haram terrorists transporting a large number of hostages. Upon encountering the soldiers, the terrorists abandoned the hostages and fled the scene.
He explained that among the rescued hostages were eight men, eight women, and 24 children.
Preliminary investigations, the military said, showed that the hostages were being moved from Dogon Chikwu, a Boko Haram enclave now under heavy pressure from ongoing MNJTF military operations.
“Efforts are underway to pursue the fleeing terrorists, as intelligence suggests they may still be holding additional hostages,” he said.
Osaba said that in a separate operation, MNJTF troops successfully intercepted a Boko Haram logistics syndicate in the Gubio area.
According to him, the syndicate, using three vehicles, was transporting essential supplies, including food, clothing, and medical supplies, to the terrorists.
He listed the three suspects, Mustapha Muhamadu, Abdullahi Muhammed, and Usman Bintumi, who were apprehended during the operation.
He noted that these operations are part of the MNJTF’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of civilians in the Lake Chad Basin.
He also highlighted the importance of the intelligence-led approach and the close cooperation between the military and civilian joint task forces, emphasising that these recent successes underscore the effectiveness of regional forces in counter-terrorism efforts.
(NAN)