Two Teenagers Involved in Bombing Plot for Boko Haram Surrender in Borno

Two individuals believed to be associated with Boko Haram, namely 19-year-old Abubakar Mohammed (also known as Garba) and 13-year-old Babagana Modu, have turned themselves in to the Sector 3 Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) troops stationed in Monguno, Borno State.

This surrender, which took place on April 21, 2024, represents a significant advancement in the relentless effort to eradicate the activities of Boko Haram in the area.

Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, the Chief Military Public Information Officer of the MNJTF in Ndjamena, disclosed this development in a press release issued on Monday.

The press statement highlighted that Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Monguno, Nigeria, has observed a continuous trend of terrorists surrendering within its operational jurisdiction.

The recent surrender of two individuals, identified as 19-year-old Abubakar Mohammed (alias Garba) and 13-year-old Bana Modu, who were known as experts in handling improvised explosive devices (IEDs), signifies a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to dismantle Boko Haram’s operations in the region.

Mohammed and Modu, during a preliminary investigation, disclosed that they had received orders to plant IEDs along the roads of Doron Baga and Fish Dam in Baga, Kukawa Local Government of Borno State, Nigeria.

However, instead of carrying out their assigned task, they made the decision to abandon it, escape with the IEDs, and surrender themselves to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Their choice was influenced by the recent successful Operation NASHRUL SALAM conducted by the MNJTF, which employed non-kinetic operations and engaged with relevant sources to demonstrate the effectiveness of psychological operations in the fight against terrorism.

The recovered items from Mohammed and Modu included two IEDs, two mobile phones, and a sum of fifty-three thousand Naira (N53,000.00).

This development highlights the MNJTF’s commitment to encouraging other terrorists hiding in the Lake Chad Islands to come forward, surrender, and lay down their weapons, with the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable peace in the region.

Lt. Col. Abdullahi emphasized that the MNJTF remains dedicated to its mission of restoring peace and facilitating the return of normalcy to the Lake Chad Basin.