By Linus Aleke and Cross Udo
The coordinated air bombardment of terrorists’ enclaves and convert logistic facilities by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has hit the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), training camp, killing both instructors and the trainee terrorist fighters at Tumbun Hamma in the Lake Chad Region.

A highly placed source told ThisNigeria yesterday that there are about 24 ISWAP terrorists, who were observed to be undergoing weapon handling and Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) training at the location for six consecutive days was struck by NAF aircraft.

The effect of the strike, he said, was adjudged very successful and led to the degrading of the threats posed by the terrorists.

The military source also told our correspondent that the ongoing series of military air strikes on terrorists’ locations in the Tumbuns near Lake Chad, is seen in the military circle as retaliatory air strikes on terrorists after their attempted attack on a Nigerian Army location in Mallam Fatori.

He recalled that following the flooding of the Northern part of the Tumbuns of the Lake Chad, Mallam Fatori town and Nigerian Army troops’ location situated in the town had become flooded thereby limiting their mobility.

“For Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, the flooding thus provided an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and try their luck in attacking troops’ location with little or no success,” he said.

This, the source further said, necessitated the need for several air recce missions in the area to identify and locate the terrorists and their enclaves.

Sexual, gender based violence, is a threat to society

He also disclosed that intelligence revealed that the terrorists were indeed infiltrating Mallam Fatori from Tumbun Fulani and they had with them four gun trucks, several support weapons, and other technical equipment.

“Hence the need for an air interdiction mission to degrade and disrupt their activities,” the source added.

He said, “Accordingly, the strikes on Tumbun Fulani led to the destruction of three of the gun trucks hidden under trees with several terrorists scampering towards six boats on the shores of the Lake Chad eliminated as well, thereby degrading their ability to attack own forces.”

The military source further told ThisNigeria that the efforts of the NAF in protecting Nigerian Army locations within the joint theatres of operation are a positive development and indicative of the high level of cooperation and synergy currently being observed among the various security agencies.

He noted that this renewed synergy bodes well for the entire nation and gives Nigerians a sense of pride and confidence that as long as the security agencies continue to work together, the risks posed by enemies of the state will be greatly curtailed and minimised.

However, efforts to reach the Director Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, or the NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, for comments, as at the time of filing this report were unsuccessful.

*Buhari says Russia/Ukraine conflict compounding war on terrorism

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has said the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict coupled with other violent situations in the Sahel region of West Africa has compounded the Boko Haram terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin region.

Buhari disclosed this in his opening address at the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), held at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Nigerian President, who is also the Chairman of the Summit, weapons, and fighters are already slipping into the region from Russia and Ukraine, heightening the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, a situation he said calls for a reawakening of the border security of the countries of the region.

He noted that though a lot had been done to decimate the strength of the Boko Haram terror group and other violent extremist groups in the region, terrorist threats persist.

Sexual, gender based violence, is a threat to society

According to him, “I am glad to inform my dear brothers that in keeping with that decision, the MNJTF has since then, successfully conducted three major operations: Ops‘YANCIN TAFKI (I&II) and Ops Lake Sanity I, with, the fourth one, Ops Lake Sanity II, being planned. The next phase of the operation will take cognizance of lessons learnt from previous exercises and effectively consolidate the gains attained by preceding Ops.

“I am glad to note that during the execution of Ops Lake Sanity I, regrouping terrorists in the Lake Chad Islands were effectively decimated. 

“It must however be stated that despite the successes recorded by the gallant troops of the MNJTF and the various ongoing national operations in the region, terrorist threats still lurk in the region.

“Regrettably, the situation in the Sahel and the raging war in Ukraine serve as major sources of weapons and fighters that bolster the ranks of the terrorists in the Lake Chad region. A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunition procured to execute the war in Libya continues to find its way to the Lake Chad Region and other parts of the Sahel.

“Weapons being used for the war in Ukraine and Russia are equally beginning to filter to the region.

This illegal movement of arms into the region has heightened the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which continues to threaten our collective peace and security in the region.

“There is, therefore, the urgent need for expedited collaborative actions by our border control agencies and other security services to stop the circulation of all illegal weapons in the region.”

Buhari further noted that more than the military solution, governments of the region need to complement the ongoing efforts with the provision of sustainable development projects, which he said would make life more conducive for the people and restore their confidence in the State.

“Although terrorist threats have been significantly decimated in the region, it is worthy of note that military actions alone cannot effectively win the war against terrorism. There is the overriding need to complement military operations with the provision of sustainable development projects that will ameliorate the living conditions of the affected people in the region.

“Government presence must be positively felt in the area to restore the confidence of citizens in the ability of the State to protect them and provide basic infrastructure for all.

“It is because of the foregoing that the implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery, and Resilience of the Boko Haram affected Areas of the region must gain further traction without any delay”, he said.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the LCBC, Ambassador Mamman Nuhu, disclosed that Nigeria had remitted a total of $209,075,748 to the funding of the MNJTF between 2015 and 2021.

“I want to avail myself of this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to your Excellencies for your unwavering support to your respective MNJTF sectors, regardless of other challenges that equally demand similar support from you.

“Special thanks also to the Chairman of the Summit, for his tireless support to the MNJTF, the last remittance of the sum of $10,500,000 on April 6, 2021, brought the total direct disbursement of Nigeria to the MNJTF to $209,075,748 from 2015 to 2021”, he disclosed.

The event had Presidents and Heads of State of the six member-states in attendance, except for President Paul Biya of Cameroon, who was represented by one of his ministers.

Those in physical attendance were Prof Faustine Archange TOUADERA, President of the Central African Republic; Mohamed BAZOUM, President and Head of State of Niger Republic; Patrice Tallon, President of the Republic of Benin; Mahamat Idriss Deby ITNO, President of the Transition Military Council of Chad, President of the Republic, Head of State; Mohamed AL-MENFI, Chairman, Presidential Council of Libya.

 Sexual, gender based violence, is a threat to society

*Buhari charges multi-national joint task force to end terrorism

Also yesterday, President Buhari charged the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin to exert the final push towards ending terrorism in the region.

Buhari gave the charge in his opening address at the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), at the Old Banquet Hall Conference, Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President, who ended his tenure as Chairman of the Commission at the end of the 16th Summit, also charged his colleagues from the other five member countries to provide the required political and material support for the LCBC/MNJTF to motivate the formations to deliver on their mandates.

The President of the Transition Military Council of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, took over as Chairman of the LCBC Summit at the expiration of President Buhari’s term as chairman.

He noted that the fight against the Boko Haram terror group and other forms of threats in the region must remain the lead priority even as he assured the MNJTF of the commitment of the leaders of the region to the welfare and equipment of the troops. 

“To our gallant troops in the field, ensuring the safety and stability of the region, we recommit ourselves to sustaining the ongoing counterterrorism efforts by providing you with the requisite needs to function optimally.

“I wish to assure you that your welfare would continue to remain our priority. I urge you all to rededicate yourselves as we take the final push toward eradicating terrorism from our Region. Together, we shall restore and transform the Lake Chad Region to its former glory.

“I equally express sincere gratitude to our partners for the support they continue to offer us in our joint collaborative efforts to fight the challenges that have hampered the sustainable development of the region, particularly climate change and terrorism. Together, we have shown that with commitment and with the desired support, we can achieve success.

“We therefore must continue to remain committed to ensuring that the diversity in the region continues to be a source of strength and positive cohesive force for the people of the Lake Chad Region.

“My dear brother-Presidents, we must remain unrelenting in providing the needed political and material support for the LCBC/MNJTF in its efforts at delivering regional initiatives that will revamp Lake Chad and revitalize the socio-economic activities of the region.

“The fight against Boko Haram and other forms of criminality in the region must remain issues on the front burner of discourse in the region,” he said.

The Commander of the MNJTF, Maj- Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim, told journalists that a lot is being done to put an end to the reign of terrorists in the region, especially in terms of equipment and personnel preparedness.

He, however, noted that the war against terrorism would only be won when an ‘all-of-society’ approach is adopted and not just left to the military.

“If you look at our operations in the Northeast in the last two years, we have made tremendous progress, but then it came at a cost because some of these criminals are leaving the Northeast and they’re moving to other areas.

“But essentially, we have been looking at our strategies, we have been looking at our equipment, we have been looking at what we can do with our partners and I feel at the end of it all, we should be able to make a breakthrough.

“What I can tell you and what I can tell Nigerians is that we are not just sitting on our oars, we are planning every day, injection of equipment by the government, we have increased the number of people to be recruited into the forces.

“I think, at the end of the day, we should be able to achieve what we desire; better security for our people”, he said.

Asked if the region could be rid of terrorism, Ibrahim said “yes, this war can end, but it will take a lot of effort, not just kinetic. Kinetic is us fighting with bullets and what have you, but non-kinetic as well; talking to the misguided boys, getting people educated, getting people to have what they are doing.

“If we can have what I can call a whole-of-society approach, comprising military and non-military means, coming together, I think we can achieve that”, he said.