13-year-old and 19-year-old Boko Haram IED experts surrender to MNJTF in Monguno

The Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) based in Monguno, Nigeria, has announced a significant development in its efforts to combat terrorism in the region.

According to a statement issued by Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, the Chief Military Public Information Officer in Ndjamena, two individuals identified as improvised explosive device (IED) experts had surrendered to MNJTF authorities.

The individuals, identified as 19-year-old Abubakar Mohammed, also known as Garba, and 13-year-old Bana Modu, laid down their arms on April 21, 2024, marking a notable success in the ongoing campaign against Boko Haram’s activities in the area.

He said during preliminary investigations, Mohammed and Modu disclosed that they had been instructed to plant IEDs on roads in Doron Baga and Fish Dam in Baga, Kukawa Local Government of Borno State, Nigeria.

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Instead of carrying out their orders, they chose to abandon their mission, escape with the IEDs, and surrender to the MNJTF.

Lt. Col. Abdullahi attributed their decision to surrender to the recent success of Operation NASHRUL SALAM, a non-kinetic operation, and the sector’s engagement strategy with relevant sources.

This operation highlighted the effectiveness of psychological operations in countering terrorism.

Recovered items from the surrendered individuals include two IEDs, two mobile phones, and a sum of fifty-three thousand Naira (N53,000.00).

This development underscores the MNJTF’s commitment to encouraging other terrorists hiding in the Lake Chad Islands to surrender and contribute to achieving sustainable peace in the region.

The MNJTF reaffirmed its dedication to its mission of restoring peace and facilitating the return of normalcy to the Lake Chad Basin.