Abubakar Mohammed (alias Garba), 19, and a 13-year-old boy are suspected members of Boko Haram who have been identified as experts in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). They have surrendered to the troops of Sector 3 Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Monguno, in Borno State by laying down their weapons.

This was made public on Monday, 22nd April 2024,  in a news release that was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, the MNJTF’s Chief Military Public Information Officer in Ndjamena.

According to the released statement, Section 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Monguno, Nigeria, has reported that terrorists are continuing to surrender within its Area of Operations.

“Abubakar Mohammed, also known as Garba, 19, and the 13-year-old boy were two of the most recent criminals to surrender their weapons. They were both recognized as experts on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The incident, which occurred on April 21, 2024, was a significant victory in the ongoing effort to eliminate Boko Haram’s activities in the area.

According to Mohammed, and the boy, they were instructed to plant IEDs along the highways leading to Doron Baga and Fish Dam in Baga, Kukawa Local Government, Borno State, Nigeria, during an initial probe by the Local Government of Borno State, Nigeria.

“Rather than completing their goal, they chose to give up, flee with the IEDs, and surrender to the MNJTF. The recently ended non-kinetic Operation NASHRUL SALAM by the MNJTF and the sector’s personal interaction approach with pertinent sources, which demonstrated the efficacy of psychological operations in counterterrorism, had an impact on their choice.” Two IEDs, two cell phones, and fifty-three thousand Naira (N53,000.00) were among the items recovered from them. 

To bring about long-lasting peace in the area, this development emphasizes the MNJTF’s commitment to pressuring other terrorists who are holed up in the Lake Chad Islands to come out, surrender, and give up their weapons.

Lt. Col. Abdullahi said, “The MNJTF remains committed to its mandate of restoring peace and facilitating the return of normalcy to the Lake Chad Basin.”

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