Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Marines and Nigerian Army have performed “intelligence-driven” offensives towards terrorists ravaging the troubled Lake Chad region, killing a minimum of 34.
Naval spokesperson, Abiodun Folrunsho, disclosed this in a press release on Saturday, saying the operations have been performed between 28 and 30 October.
The operatives, stationed on the Naval Base Lake Chad, launched the offensives in collaboration with operatives of Army 403 Amphibious Brigade, a tactical unit working underneath Operation Hadin Kai, a joint activity drive in the North-east.
On 28 October, a complete of 28 terrorists suspected to be members of Boko Haram have been killed “in action,” Mr Folorunsho mentioned.
During the next offensive launched on 30 October, the operatives, in accordance with the naval spokesperson, killed a further six terrorists at their enclave recognized as Dumba.
“The casualty figures remain subject to further verification as operational assessments continue,” he mentioned.
Mr Folorunsho didn’t specify whether or not the joint offensives have been performed on conflict boats or on the bottom. However, one blurry image of a slain terrorist means that the battle was fought on the bottom.
Boko Haram and its rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are entrenched in Lake islands, usually launching assaults on safety and civilian targets, whereas sometimes combating themselves on boats. Videos of their infighting, particularly on water, have gone viral at totally different instances
Because they exploit the huge waters of Lake Chad and the maze of islands to tax native fishermen whereas evading navy raids, regional safety forces combating this protracted conflict underneath the umbrella of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have built-in naval and riverine patrols to strip the insurgents of their sanctuary.
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With the escalating geopolitical and structural challenges rocking MNJTF, observers say naval and riverine patrols have considerably diminished, shifting main duties to Nigerian forces, which proceed to deploy air and naval belongings.
Mr Folorunsho mentioned the marines, since their current deployment to Lake Chad Bay, “served as a drive multiplier underneath Operation Hadin Kai, strengthening the conduct of offensive operations towards terrorist components. “
“Their operational contributions have enhanced the capacity to target terrorist enclaves, disrupt hostile activities and deny Boko Haram terrorists freedom of action within the Lake Chad area,” he added. “These efforts continue to support the degradation of terrorist capabilities and advance ongoing operations to restore peace and stability in the North-east.”
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