Boko Haram leadership under pressure as senior commander surrenders in Nigeria

A senior commander of the Boko Haram terrorist group, notorious for its insurgency in the Lake Chad region, has surrendered to military forces stationed in northeast Nigeria.

The commander, identified as Butchu Abacha, handed himself over along with his weapon to a military unit based in Kukawa, Borno State, following intensified military operations against the group.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which is responsible for countering Boko Haram’s activities in the region, confirmed the surrender.

This coalition, headquartered in N’Djamena, Chad, is comprised of troops from Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Benin.

It has been conducting joint operations for several years to dismantle Boko Haram, a group aligned with ISIS and seeking to establish a so-called “West African Caliphate.”

According to Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osaba, spokesperson for the MNJTF, Abacha was a notorious figure within Boko Haram, playing a central role in several attacks. ”

He has confessed to involvement in numerous terrorist operations along the Monguno-Baga axis,” said Osaba.

The surrender, Osaba added, was motivated by the tightening noose around Boko Haram’s operations due to the sustained military offensives.

Abacha also reportedly renounced the group’s ideology, declaring that he no longer believes in the extremist teachings of Boko Haram.

Upon surrendering, Abacha was in possession of an AK-47 rifle, a magazine containing 11 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a mobile phone, a SIM card from a local telecom company, and a sum of money.

Investigations are now underway to gather intelligence on the operations and future plans of Boko Haram.

“Abacha is already providing valuable intelligence to authorities, helping to shed light on the inner workings and strategies of the group,” Osaba stated.

In a related operation, MNJTF forces, in collaboration with intelligence agents, ambushed Boko Haram militants transporting logistical supplies in three Toyota vehicles under the cover of darkness.

The military unit engaged in a fierce firefight, resulting in the death of one insurgent, while others fled the scene.

The task force seized the vehicles, which were loaded with food supplies, essential goods, and a significant amount of cash.

While Boko Haram’s strength has been diminished by the multinational task force’s efforts, the group remains capable of launching sporadic violent attacks.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has sought to establish an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria, a country rich in oil and home to West Africa’s largest economy.