Intelligence sharing enhances war effort

Inter-military exchange of information, US and French support as well as collaboration from population have been vital in taming the enemy.

February 11 and 14, 2016 were two unforgettable days in the Nigerian locality and Boko Haram stronghold of Ngoshe; 15 kilometres away from the Cameroonian town, Ashigashia, Far North Region. Cameroon’s Defence Forces, acting under the banner of the Multinational Joint Task Force’s “ARROW FIVE” operation, launched two successive victorious attacks against Boko Haram positions, neutralising 162 terrorists, dismantling four artisanal bomb factories and releasing hundreds of people made prisoners by Boko Haram.

In the press conference given by the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary on February 15, 2016, the government spokesman explained that the Special Forces had significant support from the Nigerian ally in terms of intelligence and operational coordination. Such coordination which continued with more victorious assaults in several other localities such as Kumshe and Madawaya contributed in overturning the warfront situation to the detriment of Boko Haram’s sinister incursions and territorial expansion.

The intelligence cooperation amongst Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) member States has been receiving back-up from France and the United States of America. Besides furnishing satellite images of the enemy’s territory and movements, two French intelligence officers are deployed to the war command headquarters while 300 US troops posted in Garoua have been furnishing crucial or strategic information to the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Acknowledging this support during his State address on December 31, 2015, the Head of State, Paul Biya said; “I would like to specially commend the decision by the United States of America to field 300 troops on an Intelligence Support Mission. We are grateful to them for such mark of confidence in our country.” His instructions, as Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, for a popular defence strategy saw an unprecedented collaboration between the Defence Forces and the local populations.

The result has been the considerable weakening of Boko Haram’s insurgents embedded in the communities. Even suicide bombings have sharply decreased as LCBC Intelligence Chiefs are meeting in Yaounde since yesterday to assess the path covered and trace the way forward.