As part of Operation Lake Sanity 2, carried out by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), 263 Boko Haram militants and their families turned themselves in at the Cameroon-Nigeria border between July 10 and July 17, 2024. Five terrorists turned themselves in at Wulgo, the town that sits on the Nigerian-Cameroonian border, on July 11, 2024, sparking the start of this wave of surrenders. These people were found to be from the Marte Local Government Area in Nigeria, namely from Tumbuka and Kutumgulla. Malum Kori Bukar, 50, managed to flee Jibilaram and turned himself in on July 11. Eleven other terrorists also turned themselves in, one in Wulgo and nineteen in Madaya, Cameroon.
In Bonderi, Cameroon, 64 people—six adult males, twenty women, and thirty-eight children—turned themselves in the next day. July 13, 27 terrorists gave themselves in. Twenty adult males, forty women, and forty-two children made up the other 102 surrenderees that turned themselves in in Bonderi on July 15. Five people turned themselves in in Wulgo, from the Tumbuma hideaway in southern Lake Chad. Two additional terrorists turned themselves in on July 16. On July 17, 48 terrorists and their families—ten adult males, fifteen females, and twenty-three children—turned themselves in as part of the series of surrenders that had begun.
These surrenders suggest that Boko Haram’s command structure is crumbling.
The individuals that turned themselves in were all Nigerians, and they were sent to the Operation HADIN KAI forces to be dealt with further. With the goal of eliminating Boko Haram and re-establishing Peace in the Lake Chad Basin, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) launched Operation Lake Sanity 2. Operation Lake Sanity, which was successful in weakening Boko Haram’s stronghold in the region, was preceded by this operation. Operation Lake Sanity 2’s goals are to liberate occupied areas, assist in the safe return of displaced people, and destroy Boko Haram’s logistical networks.
Due to the operation’s emphasis on severing the group’s supply lines and hiding places, a recent wave of surrenders has also occurred. One major achievement in the battle will be the 263 Boko Haram terrorists and their families who surrendered between July 10 and July 17, 2024. Experts in the military point out that it is a sign of weakened commitment and operational capability when Boko Haram surrenders large numbers of people. Dr. Ibrahim Musa, a regional analyst, observes that “these surrenders suggest that Boko Haram’s command structure is crumbling under sustained military pressure, leading to a loss of morale among its fighters.”
Everyone is turned over to Operation HADIN KAI for processing.
Its recruiting and propaganda activities are further hampered by the mass defection, which lessens the group’s menace even more. Accounts from those who have sacrificed themselves provide insight into the terrible reality of life in Boko Haram. The 50-year-old Malum Kori Bukar, who turned himself in on July 11, revealed that his depreciating living circumstances and ongoing dread were the main reasons for his escape. It appears that the operation was successful in providing safe passageways for families attempting to escape because many women and children turned themselves in alongside their male counterparts.
Recounting her battle to shield her kids from the brutality and dearth of supplies in the group’s camps, Aisha, a 30-year-old mother, turned herself in on July 12. Everyone is turned over to Operation HADIN KAI for processing when they surrender. Medical exams, debriefings, and extensive Security screening are all part of this. In an effort to deradicalize former fighters and provide them with the skills necessary for sustainable livelihoods, the Nigerian government has launched rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in partnership with foreign partners.
Related Article: FG Resumes Prosecution of Boko Haram Suspects
To enable a seamless reintegration back into society, these programs involve community integration efforts, psychological counselling, and career training. In addition to the successful management of those who have surrendered through Operation HADIN KAI, the persistent efforts of Operation Lake Sanity 2 demonstrate a complete counterterrorism strategy that takes into account the humanitarian dimensions of the fight in addition to military triumph. Prolonged peace and security in the Lake Chad Basin region depend on these operations continuing to be successful.