• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Prof Ojerinde Jamb

      Alleged N10bn Fraud: Ex-JAMB Registrar, Ojerinde, Re-Arrested in Abuja

      court Judiciary

      Court Lifts Forfeiture on Ekweremadu’s 40 properties, Lambasts EFCC for Concealing…

      EFCC Charges Youths to Brace Up for National Development

      Okupe’s Arrest: DSS Acted on Old Alarm – EFCC

      How we Secured 3785 Convictions in 2022 – EFCC

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • FACT-CHECK:  Were Trucks Loaded with Old Naira Notes ‘Belonging to Tinubu’…

      FACT-CHECK: Did CBN Extend Deadline for Old Naira Notes to July…

      DSS Operatives

      DSS Trains Operatives on Public Relations Strategies

      Nigerian Economic Landscape is Skewed Against Northerners – Arewa Economic Forum

      Nigeria is Best Global IT Talent Factory – Kashifu Tells Tech…

  • National
    • FACT-CHECK: Did CBN Extend Deadline for Old Naira Notes to July…

      NSA, Gen Babagana Monguno Rtd

      NSA Monguno And National Security In 2022

      Gowon Wants Acting DG to Build on NYSC Founding Fathers’ Legacies

      INEC boss Mahmood Yakubu

      INEC Insists No PVC, No Voting, Says BVAS Secure

      Godwin Emefiele CBN Governor

      Law Prof. Alobo Sues CBN over old Naira, seeks extension of…

    • Government
      • Nasir Kwarra Chairman National Population Commission NPC

        Nigeria Population: Finally, NPC Fixes Dates for Nationwide Census 2023

        Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of Justice

        How Ministry of Justice Saved N1442bn, $507m from Judgement Liabilities, Malami…

        Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan

        FG to Build 116 Housing Units for Civil Servants

        Godwin Emefiele CBN Governor

        DSS Denies Invading CBN as Emefiele Resumes in Full Force

        DG NITDA Kashifu Inuwa

        Kashifu Inuwa Bags Forbes Corporate CEO Award as NITDA Trains 100…

  • Security
    • EXCLUSIVE: How Nigerian Military Responded to Airstrikes in Niger, Nasarawa –…

      Police Boss IGP Alkali Usman Baba

      IGP Approves Redesign of PCRC IDs, Membership Screening

      Nigeria Military Ground Troop

      Nigerian Troops nab Two Gunrunners, recover Arms in Kastina Forest

      NSA, Gen Babagana Monguno Rtd

      NSA Monguno And National Security In 2022

      Police Nab Suspects in Bauchi for Homicide, Rape, Stealing

  • Features
    • Police Boss IGP Alkali Usman Baba

      General Elections: IGP Tasks Officers on Professionalism, Neutrality

      Nigerian Military Troops

      Nigerian Military: Between Enhancing Security and Penalizing Misconducts

      CDS Gen Lucky Irabor

      GENERAL LEO IRABOR: The Man for the Job

      prison

      COVID-19 mutants and the Need to Decongest Custodial Centres in Nigeria

      Military: Towards Ensuring Peaceful 2023 Elections in Nigeria

  • State
    • DG, FCT Emergency Management Agency, Abbas IDris

      FCTA Introduces ‘Emergency Marshals’ to Avert Hazard in Abuja

      EFCC Denies Grilling Mustapha, Kwara APC Senatorial Candidate

      Buhari inaugurates Reference Hospital, Massive Projects Constructed by Gov Yahaya Bello…

      PSC Suspends ASP Drambi Vandi over Death of Female Lawyer

      Governor Adeleke Felicitates With Lasisi Olagunju On Dame Award

  • Event
    • 12 Things you Should Know about Armed Forces Remembrance Day in…

      Buk 92 Class 30th Anniversary

      PHOTOS: WhatsApp Reunites BUK 92 Class After 30 Years… As Old…

      Nigerian Navy Charges Personnel On Discipline, Professionalism

      President Buhari Hails CDI Gen Samuel Adebayo on Defence Intelligence, Staff…

      At Ceremonial Sunset, Naval Chief Honours Officers who Freed 250 Abducted…

Home Features Confronting Terrorism In The Lake Chad Basin- The Multinational Joint Task Force...
  • Features
  • Security

Confronting Terrorism In The Lake Chad Basin- The Multinational Joint Task Force In Perspective

By
Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim
-
November 24, 2022
Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim Maj. Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim, Force Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force – MNJTF

Confronting Terrorism In The Lake Chad Basin- The Multinational Joint Task Force In Perspective

By Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in its present form was reorganized and re-operationalized in 2015. It has its headquarters in N’djamena Chad and former Nigerian Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd) was its first Force Commander (FC).

The initial MNJTF was founded in 1994 by the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Headquarters in Baga Nigeria and had troops from Nigeria, Niger and Chad as participating members.

This Force did reasonably well in tackling the cross-border crimes and light banditry issues it was set up to tackle. However, the advent of the Boko Haram (BHT) and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgency in 2009 and increasing nature of their cross-border operations straddling Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad necessitated the need for an appropriate response to counter the threat especially after they withdrew to the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) areas after government security forces routed them from the urban areas.

Accordingly, the MNJTF was re-operationalized with an increased capacity of about 10,000 troops. The re-operationalized MNJTF was endorsed by the African Union AU, European Union EU and the United Nations UN, while the Lake Chad Basin Commission LCBC provided a convenient institutional framework to serve as the political lead organization.

The Force was mandated to create a safe and secure environment in the areas affected by the activities of BH and other terrorist groups, facilitate the implementation of overall stabilization programmes and facilitate within the limit of its capabilities, humanitarian operations and the delivery of assistance to the affected populations. Consequently, the AU mandated the LCBC to be the political coordinating body of the MNJTF with its Executive Secretary (ES) doubling as the Head of Mission (HoM) of the MNJTF.

The MNJTF has troops drawn from the Lake Chad Basin Countries of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad with the Republic of Benin being an observer and subsequently deploying troops for garrison duties at the HQ MNJTF which were later withdrawn and now having only staff officers deployed in the Headquarters. The Force has an area of operation spanning over the entire Lake Chad Basin area in parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.

The area is made up of about 2.4 million square kilometers with a population of about 30 million people spread in the countries of the Lake Chad Basin. The Force is divided into 4 sectors, each of brigade plus status with Sector 1 at Mora (Cameroon), Sector 2 at Baga Sola (Chad), Sector 3 at Monguno (Nigeria) which also operates as Sector 3 OPERATION HADIN KAI and Sector 4 at Diffa (Niger).

Since the MNJTF was re-operationalized in 2015, the Force has conducted 6 major operations. These include Operation GAMA AIKI, Operation RAWAN KADA, Operation AMNI FAKAT and Operation YANCIN TAKFI I & II. The Force recently conducted Op SHARAN FAGE and Operation LAKE SANITY.

These operations were collectively successful with significant effects on the terrorist’s operational capacity. The role of the national air forces of the LCB countries especially the Nigerian Air Force cannot be overemphasized as they continually struck deep in the Lake Chad Islands and had a devastating effect on the insurgent’s operational capability. Operation LAKE SANITY which was the most recent MNJTF Operation, saw the MNJTF troops penetrate deep inside the Lake Chad Islands and settlements known locally as “Tumbuns”.

This led to the neutralization of hundreds of terrorists, destruction of their camps and equipment and rescue of hostages and other abductees. Areas such as Baga, Doron Baga, Mallam Fatori, Bindirim and Cross Kauwa in Nigeria, Blagoa, Darak and Fotoko in Cameroon, Kangalia and Kaiga in Chad as well as Baroua, Ngajam and Fougoi among others have seen steady return of hundreds of refugees, internally displaced, greater normalcy and civil authority being reestablished.

The operations of the MNJTF in close collaboration with national operations (OPERATION HADIN KAI – Nigeria and OPERATION EMERGENCE IV – Cameroon) have led to an improved security situation in the Region. Schools are reopening although on a limited scale so also are hospitals and markets while commerce and agricultural activities including fishing are gradually picking up.

As the BHT/ISWAP operational space continues to shrink from these military pressures, their activities have been successfully confined to opportunity and limited attacks, however they still remain a potent force capable of carrying out attacks on civilian and military targets. There is therefore the need for the LCBC Countries to reappraise the efficiency and effectiveness of the MNJTF with the ultimate aim of making it stronger.

The International Community through the EU, UK, AU, UN have also supported the MNJTF which should be sustained and improved upon. Issues of operational funding for sustained operations alongside other pressing challenges confronting the force needs to be looked into as the nature of the Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency and its cross-border nature makes collaboration by the LCB countries a basic necessity to jointly work together towards combating the menace once and for all.

The MNJTF remains a unique attempt to solving a nagging security problem as it has liberated and reclaimed lost territories hitherto occupied by the BHT in the region and also created an enabling environment for the conduct of humanitarian activities in local communities by local and international Non-Governmental Organizations such as ICRC. It has also facilitated interdependence among member states, improved border and regional security.

Perhaps the most outstanding achievement of the MNJTF is the ability to bring together countries belonging to different Regional Economic Communities; Economic Community of West African States and Economic Community of Central African States to collaborate and jointly combat the menace of terrorism in the region as well as fostering better integration among the regional militaries within the LCB area despite the limitations posed by the difference in language, culture and military training.

It shows that with the right political will and leadership, Africa can tackle its challenges. One thing is for sure, the Boko Haram conflict has led to other security challenges within Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The time to finally come together and end it is now. May the souls of all that died in this conflict, MNJTF Forces and innocent civilians find eternal rest.

Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim, a Major General is the Force Commander of the MNJTF
[email protected]

nigerian news up date

Kidnapped School Children

Yauri FGC Students, Kebbi
591 days 16 hours 17 minutes 21 seconds,

Baptist School Students, Kaduna
573 days 17 hours 58 minutes 46 seconds

Tegina Islamiya Pupils, Niger (Freed)
Spent 88 days from May 30, 2021 - August 26, 2021


Report By: PRNigeria.com

 
VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Borno
  • Chad
  • Insurgency
  • Lake Chad Basin
  • MNJTF
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Yusuf Tukur Buratai
Previous articleSAEMA-SCA 2022: Femi Adesina, Afunanya, Gwandu Bag Security and Communications Awards
Next articleTozali TV Makes DSTV Onboarding, Set for 7th Henna Ball and Awards
Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

FACT-CHECK:  Were Trucks Loaded with Old Naira Notes ‘Belonging to Tinubu’ Intercepted in Lagos?

EXCLUSIVE: How Nigerian Military Responded to Airstrikes in Niger, Nasarawa – Sources

LAUGHABLE: Court set for judgment in suit seeking Buhari’s Removal and Stop 2023 Presidential Election

Police Boss IGP Alkali Usman Baba

IGP Approves Redesign of PCRC IDs, Membership Screening

Nigeria Military Ground Troop

Nigerian Troops nab Two Gunrunners, recover Arms in Kastina Forest

FACT-CHECK: Did CBN Extend Deadline for Old Naira Notes to July 31st? 

NSA, Gen Babagana Monguno Rtd

NSA Monguno And National Security In 2022

Gowon Wants Acting DG to Build on NYSC Founding Fathers’ Legacies

Police Nab Suspects in Bauchi for Homicide, Rape, Stealing

Nigerian Troops at Auno Axis

Troops destroy 39 illegal refineries, arrest oil thieves in Niger Delta

Navy chief flags off 237 personnel housing unit in Lagos

Police Boss IGP Alkali Usman Baba

General Elections: IGP Tasks Officers on Professionalism, Neutrality

  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
X whatsapp