BREAKING: Ex-BH’s Terrorists Foot Soldier Surrenders With Wife, Two Kids Amid MNJTF’s Lake Chad Basin Fierce Clamp Down

A Boko Haram fighter, Mohammed Abdulraman, and his family have surrendered to the country’s military, citing internal crisis within the terrorist group and the success of the Multinational Joint Task Force’s (MNJTF) Operation Nashrul Salam.

Abdulraman, who had been a foot soldier since 2017, turned himself in along with his wife and two children, and also handed over a 36 Hand Grenade, in an incident that marks a rare defection from the ranks of the extremist group.

It was gathered that Abdulraman, was among the six Boko Haram terrorists that surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) amidst Operation Lake Sanity 2, which targets the terrorist group’s hideouts in the Lake Chad Region spanning Cameroon and Nigeria.

The surrenders, which took place between April 17 and 27, 2024, bring the total number of defectors to 12 in recent weeks.

The latest surrenders also include Alhaji Ali, a 19-year-old Boko Haram terrorist who surrendered to troops of 403 Amphibious Brigade (Baga) of Sector 3 in Monguno, Nigeria, on April 17.

According to military information, initial investigations revealed that Ali had been affiliated with Boko Haram’s Buduma faction for three years and was motivated to surrender due to growing discontent within the group.

Other who surrendered include Haoudou Sedik and Kadja Ousman, who turned themselves in at Blangua, Cameroon, on April 25, and Mohammed Abdulraman, his wife Sadiya, and their two children, who surrendered to Sector 3’s 403 Amphibious Brigade at the Kwatam Turare axis, Baga, Nigeria, on April 26. Yusuf Umaru, a 25-year-old, also surrendered to the troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, in Kekeno, within the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, on April 27.

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According to the MNJTF, the surrenders are a result of the growing internal crisis within Boko Haram and the influence of Operation Nashrul Salam, which has weakened the terrorist group’s grip on the region.

Disclosing this in a statement on Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief Military Public Information Officer, reiterated the MNJTF’s commitment to restoring lasting peace and stability to the Lake Chad Basin, encouraging terrorists to follow the path of those who have already surrendered.

The statement reads: “As the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) progresses with Operation Lake Sanity 2, Boko Haram hideouts in the Lake Chad Region, spanning Cameroon and Nigeria, are seeing an increase in surrenders. Recently, 6 additional terrorists have surrender, laying down their arms from 17 to 27 April 2024.

“On 17 April 2024, a 19-year-old Boko Haram terrorist named Alhaji Ali surrendered to troops of 403 Amphibious Brigade (Baga) of Sector 3 in Monguno, Nigeria. Initial investigations reveal a 3-year affiliation with Boko Haram’s Buduma faction. Ali, hailing from Masarram on Lake Chad Island and residing at Duguri, highlighted the growing discontentment within the group.

“Furthermore, on 25 April 2024, 2 more terrorists, Haoudou Sedik, 37, and Kadja Ousman, 21, turned themselves in at Blangua, Cameroon, to troops of Sector 1 in the Darak area of southern Lake Chad. Investigations reveal their origins from Chad, residing in the localities of Kami-Wari and Kourea, respectively.

“The surrenders continued on 26 April, when Mohammed Abdulraman, 38, his wife Sadiya, and their two children (aged 13 and an infant), bearing one 36 Hand Grenade, surrendered to Sector 3’s 403 Amphibious Brigade at the Kwatam Turare axis, Baga, Nigeria. Abdulraman, identified as a foot soldier since 2017 in Sharama, cited internal crisis and the influence of MNJTF’s Operation Nashrul Salam as reasons for their defection.

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“Likewise, on 27 April 2024, Yusuf Umaru, a 25-year-old, surrendered to the troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, in Kekeno, within the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. During the initial investigation, Umaru revealed that he had been abducted by Boko Haram militants along the Monguno-Maiduguri road in 2020. He stated that during his captivity, he was forced to work as a storeroom keeper in one of the terrorist group’s camps located on the islands of Lake Chad.

“The MNJTF calls upon other Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the Lake Chad islands and adjoining communities to cease hostilities and embrace peace. We reiterate our commitment to restoring lasting peace and stability to the Lake Chad Basin, encouraging terrorists to follow the path of those who have already surrendered”.