MNJTF Captures, Occupies Damasak Town In Borno

Nigeria-Cameroon troopsThe Multi-National Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) has finally reclaimed and occupied Damasak town on the border between Nigeria and Niger republic.

It was seized by the insurgents on November 24, 2014.

A statement yesterday by spokesman of the MNJTF, Mohammed Dole, said the trading town, located about 200kilometers Northwest of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was one of the last frontiers of Boko Haram militants.

Mr. Dole, a colonel, added that troops have also cleared the remnants of Boko Haram militants from the surrounding villages.

He said: “In continuation with clearance operation of the towns and villages by MNJTF, the troops of the Sector 4 in Diffa Niger Republic have successfully cleared Sure village, captured and occupied Damasak town”.

He added that: “The forces are coordinating to stabilize the immediate environs. The gallant troops fought their way into the town with Close Air support by combined Air Operation from MNJTF member states”.

“While Operation Lafiya Dole is conducting operation to link up with Sector 4 at the location, the troops’ morale remains very high”, the MNJTF spokesman asserted.

It would be recalled that Human Rights Watch, had in a report published on its website in March of 2016, claimed that at least 400 women and children, including 300 primary school pupils, were abducted by Boko Haram from Damask a year ago.

The report, which noted that the Damask mass abduction did not draw attention the same way the Chibok girls’ abduction did, called on the authorities to “wake up and find out where the Damask children and other captives are and take urgent steps to free them”.