Personality in Focus
MNJTF Achieving Stability in Lake Chad Basin, Ten Months into Major General Ibrahim Sallau Ali’s Command
By Abubakar Abdullahi
In the heart of Africa, the Lake Chad Basin serves as lifeblood for tens of millions, a unique ecological sanctuary, and a linchpin in regional stability. This expansive area, touching Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger, is more than a geographical feature; it’s the cradle of biodiversity, agriculture, and cultures that have thrived for centuries. Amidst its abundant resources, however, the region has faced its share of turmoil, exacerbated by the shadow of Boko Haram and other insurgent groups. Yet, hope glimmers on the horizon, significantly attributed to the efforts and successes of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) over the past ten months.
The importance of the Lake Chad Basin cannot be overstated. It underpins the livelihoods of over 30 million people, offering water, fish, livestock grazing, and irrigation for agriculture. But beyond its economic significance, Lake Chad is a vital ecological habitat, home to diverse species and acting as a buffer against desertification. This multifaceted utility of the Lake Chad Basin underscores the imperative of preserving its stability and prosperity. However, the specter of insecurity, primarily due to the insurgent activities of Boko Haram and its offshoots, has cast a long shadow over the region. The resulting humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and at risk of starvation, has necessitated a robust response. Enter the MNJTF, a coalition of forces from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic, established with the purpose of counteracting the threat posed by these insurgent groups.
In the last ten months, the MNJTF under the command of Major General Ibrahim Sallau Ali has made commendable strides in restoring peace and security to the Lake Chad Basin. Its multifaceted approach, combining kinetic and non-kinetic efforts, has proven effective. Notable successes include the dislodgement of insurgents from its strongholds, rescue of hostages, and reductions in the frequency and severity of attacks in the region. These military victories have been complemented by efforts to secure returnees and facilitate humanitarian assistance, reflecting a comprehensive strategy towards lasting peace. Moreover, the MNJTF has played a major role in facilitating the return of displaced persons and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas by other state actors. Infrastructure, once devastated by years of conflict, is being rehabilitated, and community resilience initiatives are being introduced, aiming at not just recovery but a sustainable improvement in quality of life. These efforts signify a beacon of hope for the basin’s future, symbolizing a turn towards stability and prosperity.
The MNJTF has achieved considerable success in kinetic operations aimed at eliminating remnants of Boko Haram and other terrorist factions in the Lake Chad Basin. Between July 2023 and April 2024, a significant victory was achieved with 299 terrorists being neutralized, 273 surrendering and 337 arrested for further investigation across different sectors. The operations also led to the recovery of various arms and ammunition, including 20 AK-47 rifles, 4 machine guns, 5 hand grenades, and 35 magazines, among various personal items. Additionally, the troops recovered 1,416 rounds of ammunition of different calibers. These operations, carried out within their national territories by the sectors, have significantly degraded the terrorists’ ability to launch large-scale attacks on the Lake, forcing them instead to resort to hit-and-run tactics against isolated civilian targets.
Likewise, the MNJTF has conducted Operation NASHRUL SALAM, a non-kinetic approach to break the cycle of terror. This psychological operation was tailored to foster surrender and disrupt unity among the terrorist factions. Operation NASHRUL SALAM disseminated messages across the Lake Chad region in 5 languages: Kanuri, Hausa, Arabic, French, and English, to ensure widespread comprehension. These tailored messages were air-dropped over specific islands known to harbour terrorists, targeting them directly in their hideouts. The operation’s impact was profound, culminating in a significant number of terrorists surrendering. This wave of capitulation not only weakened the terrorists’ resolve but also led to the recovery of a variety of arms and ammunition, which were surrendered to the troops.
The success of Operation NASHRUL SALAM underscores the effectiveness of psychological operations in counter-terrorism efforts, showcasing the power of communication in undermining terror networks and encouraging peace.
Operation NASHRUL SALAM is not the sole non-kinetic initiative aimed at enhancing stability in the Lake Chad region. Supported by its partner, the European Union, the MNJTF has executed Quick Impact Projects throughout the four sectors of the MNJTF. In particular, after successful kinetic operations, over 3,200 residents of the Bagatelerom community in Chad have returned to their ancestral homes, with MNJTF personnel assisting their resettlement in partnership with relevant agencies. Additionally, the revival of fishing activities, previously hindered by security concerns in the region, marks a significant turnaround. Moreover, within the year, farmers in the Baga community have received agricultural tools and benefited from the installation of more than ten irrigation boreholes to bolster food security in the area. These efforts underscore our modest yet impactful contributions toward enhancing the socio-economic conditions within the Lake Chad Basin Region. Over the last ten months, we have carried out 95 Quick Impact Projects in 31 communities around Lake Chad, spanning water and sanitation, health, and education sectors.
None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support provided by the Lake Chad Basin Commission. The Commission took a lead role in convening a meeting of the Council of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Ministers of Defence from the Troop Contributing Countries in N’Djamena, Chad, from 11 to 15 March 2024. This council acknowledged the need to initiate Operation LAKE SANITY 2 to thwart any terrorist attempts to regroup and to capitalize on the progress already achieved. This strategic deliberation paved the way for the launch of Operation LAKE SANITY 2 on 23 April 2024. Since the operation’s commencement, the troops have exhibited a high level of dedication to achieving the mission’s objectives, showcasing their commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region.
Operation LAKE SANITY 2 is poised to significantly compliment various national operations and solidify the multinational joint efforts of the MNJTF. The troops have demonstrated unparalleled dedication to achieving their mission, a sentiment warmly echoed by the local communities, who have greeted the forces with open arms and cheers—a clear sign of their support. This local backing aligns with the Force Commander’s repeated calls for community engagement across different sectors within the MNJTF Area of operations, highlighting the operation’s importance and the critical role of local support in its success.
This collaborative success story of MNJTF under Maj Gen IS Ali serves as a testament to what can be accomplished when nations unite against a common threat. As we look forward, it’s imperative that the successes of the MNJTF are built upon. Continued international support, coupled with sustained commitment from the member states, is indispensable. The Lake Chad Basin, with its profound importance to ecological balance, economic sustenance, and cultural heritage, deserves no less. The strides made by the MNJTF in restoring stability are but the first steps on the long road to comprehensive recovery and development. The future of the Lake Chad Basin hinges on the continuation of these concerted efforts to ensure that this vital region can fully realize its potential as a cradle of prosperity and peace.
Abubakar Abdullahi is a Lieutenant Colonel, and the Chief Public Information Officer, Headquarters Multinational Joint Task Force, Ndjamena, Chad Republic.
Japanese stage and film actor Tatsuya Nakadai, who starred in a string of Akira Kurosawa classics, including the lead role in Ran, has died at the age of 92, his acting school announced on Tuesday.
Nakadai first rose to fame in Japan and internationally under director Masaki Kobayashi, who cast him in his epic anti-war trilogy The Human Condition in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
His acting school, Mumeijuku, did not disclose when Nakadai died or provide further details.
Nakadai had a walk-on role in Kurosawa’s 1954 classic Seven Samurai, but later effectively replaced Toshiro Mifune as the famed director’s leading man after Mifune went his own way.
He played the main protagonist in Kurosawa’s Kagemusha (1980), which won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Nakadai also portrayed the doomed warlord who divides his kingdom among his sons in Ran (1985), Kurosawa’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear.
One of his former students, Koji Yakusho, won Best Actor at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for his role in Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days.
Nakadai continued performing until recently, appearing this year at a theatre in the Noto region, which was still recovering from a deadly earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day last year.
AFP
American scientist, James Watson, one of the co-discoverers of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), has died at the age of 97.
Watson, alongside Francis Crick, identified the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953, a discovery that transformed biology and medicine. Their work, which revealed how genetic information is stored and transmitted, earned them and Maurice Wilkins the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
“We have discovered the secret of life,” they said at the time.
His death was confirmed by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in New York, where he spent much of his career. Watson led the institution for decades before stepping down as chancellor following controversy over his remarks on race and sex.
Watson’s reputation declined sharply after comments he made suggesting genetic differences in intelligence between races. In a 2007 interview with The Times, he said he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa”, adding that “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours whereas all the testing says not really.”
He later apologised “unreservedly”, but the remarks cost him his position at CSHL. In 2019, further comments linking race and intelligence prompted the lab to strip him of his remaining honorary titles. “Dr. Watson’s statements are reprehensible, unsupported by science,” the laboratory said in a statement.
DNA was first discovered in 1869, but its role as the genetic material in cells wasn’t confirmed until 1943. The molecule’s structure remained unknown until Watson and Crick built their model, using X-ray images produced by Rosalind Franklin at King’s College London images reportedly obtained without her consent.
Though Franklin died in 1958, she is now widely credited for her crucial role in solving the DNA structure. At the time, however, her contributions were largely overlooked.
Watson also drew criticism for sexist remarks in his 1968 memoir The Double Helix, where he commented on Franklin’s appearance. Despite this, some former colleagues noted that he supported women scientists at Harvard in the 1950s and 60s, when few others did.
In 2014, feeling isolated from the scientific community, Watson sold his Nobel medal for $4.8 million. The Russian buyer later returned it to him.
Born in Chicago in April 1928, Watson was the son of Jean and James Watson, descendants of English, Scottish, and Irish settlers. A gifted student, he entered the University of Chicago at 15, where he became interested in X-ray diffraction, a key technique in revealing atomic structures.
Watson later studied at Cambridge University, where he met Crick and began building models of DNA. After their discovery, he joined Harvard University as a biology professor.
He and his wife, Elizabeth, had two sons. One was diagnosed with schizophrenia, inspiring Watson to continue research into the genetic basis of mental illness.
In 1968, he became director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, transforming it into a leading global centre for molecular biology research, the same institution that later confirmed his death.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, KOF, has commended the Oyo State Government for its bold reforms in the real estate sector, describing the state as a land of “history, enterprise, and endless possibilities.”
Aare Adetola remarked while delivering a goodwill message titled “The Real Estate Called Oyo State” at the 2025 Oyo State Real Estate Conference, held in Ibadan.
The event, themed “Real Estate and Economic Development in Oyo State: Strategies for Success,” brought together top real estate developers, government officials, and investors to discuss strategies for improving housing delivery and driving economic growth in the state.
Organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), the conference highlighted the need for policy stability, public-private partnerships, and innovation in real estate development.
In his address, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and investor confidence through the digitalisation of land records (OYOGIS), improved urban planning, and major infrastructure upgrades across the state.
He also cited the passage of the Oyo State Land Control and Administration Bill, 2023, and the establishment of the Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force as key reforms curbing land disputes and promoting sustainable property ownership. Ogundoyin praised major developers such as Adron Homes and MKH Properties for their role in boosting investor trust in the Oyo property market.
In his goodwill message, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking applauded the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, FNSE, for maintaining consistency in land policies and governance structures, which he said had continued to attract serious investors to Oyo State.
He recalled that Adron Homes made its foray into Ibadan nearly a decade ago based on the state’s stable policy environment, a decision that has since yielded impressive results. He, however, urged the state government and future administrations to ensure policy continuity, warning that inconsistency could derail the progress already achieved.
The conference ended with a collective resolve by stakeholders to deepen collaboration between the public and private sectors, strengthen regulatory transparency, and create a business environment that will make Oyo State a model for real estate investment in Nigeria.
