Multinational force in Lake Chad points to ‘increased surrenders’ of Boko Haram members

10 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) reported on Wednesday “an increase in the number of surrenders” within the terrorist group Boko Haram in the face of increased security operations in the countries of the Lake Chad basin.

MNJTF spokesman Abubakar Abdullahi said in a statement posted on his website that 13 Boko Haram members and 43 women and children believed to be part of their families surrendered on July 6 in Cameroon, while 12 other relatives of “terrorists”, including seven children, were rescued that same day.

He also said that on July 1, a man who “escaped from a Boko Haram camp” surrendered to the Nigerien authorities and added that “the increasing number of surrenders significantly weakens Boko Haram’s operational capabilities and undermines the morale of the remaining members.”

Abdullahi therefore stressed that “other terrorists are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to lay down their weapons and surrender to the authorities in the interest of achieving lasting peace in the Lake Chad Basin region,” which includes Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

The Lake Chad Basin is the scene of relatively frequent attacks by Boko Haram, which operates mainly in Nigeria, and ISWA. Both groups have launched attacks in all countries that share this border, leading to the creation of the aforementioned joint multinational force to deal with the rise of jihadism in the region.