Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), operating under Sector 4 in Diffa, Republic of Niger, intercepted 174 Nigerian men attempting to cross into Niger border communities. The group was stopped at Gueskeru, a strategic border town linking Yobe State, Nigeria, with Niger.
MNJTF spokesperson Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba disclosed that the suspects claimed to be heading to the Lake Chad region for fishing activities. However, the porous borders and the area's history as a sanctuary for terrorist groups, including the Lakurawa group responsible for attacks on border communities, raised alarms.
Allowing such a large number of able-bodied men into a terrorist-infested zone posed potential security risks. Consequently, MNJTF Sector 4 troops intervened, halting the group's journey and initiating thorough profiling and interrogation to determine their intentions and ensure regional security.
The MNJTF reiterated its commitment to counterterrorism, protecting civilians, and maintaining stability in the Lake Chad Basin. It called for heightened border vigilance and strengthened collaboration among troop-contributing nations to curb cross-border terrorism.
