After losing over 1000 fighters to Chadian forces between March 31 and early this month, the Boko Haram sect alongside Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, are planning to kick-start an aggressive recruitment drive next month to replace lost terrorists.
The Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, which made this known on Monday, stated that the alarm was based on credible information on plots by the terrorist groups to launch aggressive recruitment and indoctrination drives.
Allnews recalls that the Chadian Army spokesman Colonel Azem Bermendoa Agouna had disclosed that his troops killed 1,000 terrorists during an operation against the Boko Haram armed group in the Lake Chad border region.
"A thousand terrorists have been killed, 50 motorised canoes have been destroyed," the colonel told a newswire, referring to a large boat also called a pirogue.
Agouna said the operation, which was launched after nearly 100 Chadian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack last month, ended after the armed fighters were forced out of the country.
In a statement he issued in Maiduguri on Monday, MNJTF’s spokesman, Col. Timothy Antigha disclosed that: “The terrorists’ recruitment drive commences in May 2020,” adding that Boko Haram targets young male adults to continue terrorism in Lake Chad region.
He explained that the task force comprises Armed Forces of Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger in fighting insurgency in member countries of Lake Chad Basin Commission, LCBC.
“The backup plan is to kidnap unwilling targets into recruitment and indoctrination drives of Boko Haram,” he warned.
Antigha noted that in the last few weeks, offensive operations and internal squabbles for money and power have depleted the fighting capacity of Boko Haram/ISWAP.
While pointing out that the terrorist organization plans to use the recruitment drives to replenish depleted fighters and manpower, the spokesman urged youths in Northeast states of Nigeria, Lake Province of Chad, Diffa region of Niger and extreme north region of Cameroon to be vigilant.
He warned that youths to shun promises of opportunities for quick money, including misguided teachings about jihad as he urged imams, community leaders and parents, to sensitize their congregations.
“You’re encouraged to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies,” he said, stressing that family members must always monitor the activities of their youths and children.
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