MNJTF Troops
MNJTF Recovers
MNJTF Troops
MNJTF Recovers Equipment from ISWAP Terrorists, Debunks
Propaganda Video
The attention of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has
been drawn to a propaganda video being orchestrated online by
agents of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP),
purporting to show personnel and equipment allegedly captured in
the ongoing conflict in the Lake Chad Area.
As usual, the ISWAP video is largely make believe and without
any substance, as their claims are substantially debatable, while a
few are pieces of information already in the public domain. It
would be recalled that in previous press releases, the MNJTF had
referenced a couple of ISWAP attacks on troop’s locations in Metele
and Baga between December 2018 and January 2019.
In the said press releases, the MNJTF had made it known that
there were personnel casualties and others Missing in Action.
Therefore, other than sheer misinformation and crass propaganda
which are aimed at causing panic and manipulating public opinion,
the ISWAP video has not introduced any new dimension into the
conflict discourse surrounding the ongoing counterinsurgency
operations in the Lake Chad Area.
It would be recalled that following ISWAP attack on troop’s
locations in Baga and surrounding localities between December 2018
and January 2019, the MNJTF launched Operation YANCIN TAFKI to
among other objectives, rescue missing personnel and recover lost
equipment.
Consequently, a sizeable number of the equipment shown in the
video have since been recovered or destroyed in situ (please, refer
to previous MNJTF press releases from February to April 2019). The
Operation which is progressing steadily is committed to rescuing
all MNJTF personnel who were declared Missing in Action. The MNJTF
therefore wishes to assure the good people of the Lake Chad Region
that the Force will never leave any personnel behind, as Operation
YANCIN TAFKI continues.
It is essential to state that contrary to the fatuous and
dubious claims to expansion in the Lake Chad Region, ISWAP’s
influence has been curtailed considerably due to relentless
pursuits by the MNJTF and national forces, as well as rejection by
populations in the region. Armed Conflict Location and Event
Dataset (ACLED) April 2019, sheds more light on the decline of
ISWAP.
From the foregoing, it is clear that while the MNJTF is growing
stronger operationally, ISWAP is loosing ground and influence,
growing weaker and having to rely on the manipulation of public
opinion to advance it’s sinister objectives. The public is
therefore urged to disregard the spurious claims by the agents of
destabilization.
Colonel Timothy Antigha
Chief of Military Public Information
MNJTF