Charles Daisi
Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) under Sector III Operation Hadin Kai successfully rescued 38 hostages and disrupted a Boko Haram logistics syndicate during intensified clearance operations in the Lake Chad region on Tuesday.
According to Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, Chief Military Information Officer at MNJTF Headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad, the operation occurred in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno, near the Baga axis.
Osoba reported that MNJTF troops intercepted Boko Haram terrorists transporting hostages. Upon encountering the soldiers, the terrorists abandoned the captives and fled.
Among the 38 rescued were eight men, eight women, and 24 children. Preliminary investigations revealed that the hostages were being moved from Dogon Chikwu, a Boko Haram enclave under heavy MNJTF military pressure.
Efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing terrorists, as intelligence indicates they may still be holding additional hostages.
In a separate operation, MNJTF troops disrupted a Boko Haram logistics network in the Gubio area. Three suspects — Mustapha Muhamadu, Abdullahi Muhammed, and Usman Bintumi — were apprehended while transporting supplies, including food, clothing, and medical items, to the terrorists using three vehicles.
Osoba emphasized that these operations are part of the MNJTF’s broader counter-terrorism efforts, highlighting the crucial role of intelligence and collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force in ensuring the safety of civilians in the Lake Chad Basin.
