At least 263 Boko Haram terrorists and their family members have surrendered to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Cameroon.
The mass surrender was achieved through Operation Lake Sanity 2, which took place from July 11 to 17, 2024, in Sector 1, Cameroon Republic.
According to security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the wave of surrenders began on July 11, 2024, when five terrorists surrendered to MNJTF troops in Wulgo, on the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
The individuals, who hailed from Tumbuma and Kutumgulla in Marte Local Government Area (LGA), Nigeria, were followed by Malum Kori Bukar, a 50-year-old, who escaped from the Jibilaram hideout and surrendered to the troops.
On the same day, 19 terrorists surrendered in the village of Madaya, extreme North of Cameroon, and another 11 surrendered in Wulgo from the Tumbuma hideout in two waves.
The trend continued on July 12, 2024, with 64 individuals surrendering in Bonderi, Cameroon, including six adult males, 20 women, and 38 children.
The following days saw a steady stream of surrenders, with 27 terrorists surrendering on July 13, 102 individuals surrendering in Bonderi on July 15, and five individuals surrendering in Wulgo, with two coming from the Tumbuma hideout, southern Lake Chad.
On July 16, 2024, two more terrorists surrendered, and on July 17, 2024, a total of 48 terrorists and their families, comprising 10 adult males, 15 females, and 23 children, surrendered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that all the surrendered individuals were terrorists from Nigeria, and they were accordingly handed over to Nigerian troops.
The mass surrender is seen as a significant achievement in the fight against Boko Haram and a testament to the effectiveness of Operation Lake Sanity 2.
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