MNJTF, Operation Lafiya Dole committed to stability in Lake Chad region

Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Task Force Commander, Multi National Joint Task Force, has reiterated the commitments of the military to the restoration of peace in the Lake Chad region.
Irabor told newsmen shortly after a meeting with Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, in Maiduguri, that the ongoing military operations achieved stability in the war ravaged region.
He said: We are fighting terrorism and insurgency.
“Terrorism does not have respect for any border and that is the reason why for those of us in the Multi National Joint Task Force, we feel that we need to interact with national operation commanders.
“To share information and thought regarding what we are doing and to encourage each other regarding the operation in general.
“We are moving from one level to the high level, you will agree with me that stability is beginning to return to the Lake Chad basin by virtue of the operations we are conducting.
“There is going to be cross border commerce. Trade is going to increase; movement of persons, socio-economic activities is also going to escalate.
“And of course these are the indicators of what impact the operations we are conducting will have. These are things that I believe all those residing in the Lake Chad Commission countries should expect.”
Irabor added the command would continue its support to military authorities in the Lake Chad Basin Commission states in the ongoing clearance operations to route out remnant of the Boko Haram insurgents.
Also speaking, Rogers explained that the Nigerian military in collaboration with MNJTF were conducting various operations against the insurgents.
Rogers added that the troops had intensified offensive against the insurgents, noting that the ongoing operation DEEP PUNCH II would soon be concluded.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the MNJTF with its headquarters in Ndjemena, Chad was constituted by LCBC states, to fight Boko haram insurgency.
The participating states are Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun, Chad and Benin Republics.
Nigerian troops under Operation DEEP PUNCH rescued about 1, 000 persons from Boko Haram captivity in Lake Chad region in the past two weeks.