mnjtf

The Nigerian town of Damasak, near the Niger border, which has defied all attempts by Nigerian troops and the multinational forces to recapture it from Boko Haram, has finally fallen. The Multi-National Joint Task Force made up of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad overran Damasak and dislodged Boko Haram from their last base yesterday.

Spokesman of MNJTF, Colonel Mohammed Dole said the joint forces had to clear Dutse, a village in Niger before swooping on Damasak around 10:00 a.m. His words: “In continuation with clearance operation of towns and villages, troops of Sector 4 in Diffa (Niger) have successfully cleared Dutse village, captured and occupied Damasak town. The forces are co-ordinating to stabilise the immediate environs.”

Dole said the success of the troops was not in isolation from air support. He disclosed that airpower provided by MNJTF member countries was crucial to the success recorded.

Damasak was captured by Boko Haram in 2014. Several attempts made by Nigerian troops to recapture the town in the past were successfully contained by the insurgents. Many Nigerian soldiers are known to have died in past battles to recapture it.