MNJTF troops eliminate 26 ISWAP terrorists, destroy 5 gun trucks in Niger Republic

MNJTF troops eliminate 26 ISWAP terrorists, destroy 5 gun trucks in Niger Republic

By: Zagazola Makama

The troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have eliminated 25 Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists while repelling their attack in the North Eastern Lake Chad.

It was gathered that an unconfirmed numbers of the terrorists had attempted to attack the Fuel Depot in Soudeye locality around Borgogorou in Niger Republic on Saturday but were stoutly repelled by the Task Force, after more than one hour of heavy gunfire that inflicted tremendous casualty on the terrorists.

An Intelligent Officer told Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert in the Lake Chad, that the Task Force had pushed back the terrorists before a combined MNJTF Air Task Force comprising of Nigeria and Niger carried out multiple airstrikes, scoring accurate hits, which led to the destruction of three guntrucks and all its occupants.

The source said that the MNJTF Air Task Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft trailed the fleeing remnants of the insurgents and destroyed two additional guntrucks killing it’s occupants.

“We counted 26 bodies, there may be more because some of the bodies were scattered all over the places. At first they came in three guntrucks and we killed all of them and destroyed the three trucks. ISR patrol sighted additional two running away at night and destroyed them too”, said the source.

The source added that the government forces did not suffer any fatalities or casualties.

A Frontline Source also told Zagazola that the MNJTF Force Commander has commended the Task Force for their doggedness, as he also charged them to ensure total annihilation of the Boko Haram/ISWAP in the entire Lake Chad Region.

The Force Commander was quoted as saying “We are motivated and ready to keep killing them until they surrender unconditionally in the lake Chad Basin.

“We believe that remnants of them are the ones causing most of the problems inside Nigeria but they got inspiration here (Niger) and we must finish them off here that’s the directive from our Service Chiefs and we must obey”.

It will be recalled that the intensified intelligence-led COIN ground and aerial offensives in the Boko Haram/ISWAP strongholds in the Lake Chad Tumbus of Abadam and Marte under Operation Desert and Lake Sanity have pushed terrorists to seek refuge around the riverbanks between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Zagazola understand that some of the hideouts included Lumburam, Fiyoo, Lada and Jarwaram, located in riverbanks between Nigeria-Niger Republic, were used to coordinate attacks on Gaidam, Kannama, Buni Yadi and other part of the North East.