‘A heavy price’ — MNJTF eulogises soldiers who died during counter-insurgency mission

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has paid tribute to soldiers who died or sustained injuries during Operation Lake Sanity II.

Ibrahim Ali, MNJTF’s force commander, presented compensation to the families of the soldiers in Mora, Cameroon; and Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Ali praised the troops for their bravery and dedication in the ongoing mission to restore peace and stability in the Lake Chad Basin.

“Their actions remind us of the heavy price paid for freedom,” he said.

He noted that the legacy of the soldiers will continue to inspire the quest for peace in the region.

He added that the MNJTF is committed to “upholding the peace and security for which these soldiers fought” while extending condolences to the grieving families.

“Your loved ones served with honour and distinction, and their contribution to this noble cause will never be forgotten,” Ali said.

Ali also acknowledged the resilience of the wounded soldiers, commending their commitment to the mission and assuring them of the MNJTF’s support for their recovery.

Mohammed Babayo, commander of Sector III, said no compensation would replace the soldiers.

Afusat Abubakar, who represented the bereaved families, expressed gratitude for the  gesture.

The event featured senior military officials including Waidi Shaibu, theatre commander of Operation Hadin Kai, who joined Ali in handing out the compensation to the families.

A similar ceremony took place in Mora, Cameroon, commencing with a moment of silence led by Tookap Loti, Sector I commander, who described the soldiers as valiant heroes.

Since 2015, the MNJTF, comprising forces from the Lake Chad Basin Countries (LCBC) — Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Benin — has engaged in counter-insurgency missions in the region.

The force is organised into four national sectors: Sector I (Cameroon) based in Mora; Sector II (Chad) located in Baga-Sola; Sector III (Nigeria) situated in Monguno; and Sector IV (Niger) in the town of Diffa.

In 2014, the defence ministers and chiefs of staff of Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) nations reactivated and operationalised the MNJTF as a counter-terrorism unit, enhancing its capacity to approximately 10,000 troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.