The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has disclosed that in the ongoing operation in the Lake Chad region, Borno state, two high-ranking Boko Haram commanders have surrendered to the MNJTF after a heated fight. The spokesperson for the MNJTF, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, , made this known in a statement today Tuesday 26th March, 2024. Accordingly, the two terrorists commander, identified as Ibrahim Muhammed and Auwal Muhammed, popularly known as WANKA, belonged to the Bakura Buduma faction who his group were responsible for carrying out some major deadly attacks in various locations around Lake Chad.
Wanka gave reason for his surrender because of the intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations embarked by troops targeting terrorist groups within Sector 3 of the MNJTF.
The duos were active brutish commanders who specialise in butchering their victims in the Lake Chad Islands until they decided to lay down their sophisticated weapons and embrace peace.
The military spokesperson said during questioning, both Muhammed and WANKA admitted of being membership in the last 15-year pogrom with affiliation with the Bakura Buduma faction, operating out of Kwallaram in the Lake Chad islands.
Recovered from the terrorists by the MNJTF were a significant cache of weapons including AK-47 rifles, magazines, ammunition, hand grenades, a handheld radio, and some mobile phones.
The statement said, “The recovery of various items from the surrendering terrorists underscores the significance of this event. These items include One AK-47 rifle, 3 AK-47 rifle magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62mm special, one magazine carrier and one mobile phone belonging to Ibrahim Mohammed.
“While one AK-47 rifle, 5 magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62millimeter special, one mobile phone, one magazine carrier, 2 hand grenades and one hand held radio belonging to Auwal Mohammed WANKA were recovered,” he said.
Meanwhile, the surrendered fighters had been taken into protective custody for further investigation by the security agency.