“Deep punch 2” was a joint offensive operation conducted from January to April 2018 by Multinational Joint Task Force-Sector1 and both Cameroonian’s and Nigerian’s Armed Forces, to disrupt Boko Haram’s strongholds in the Sambisa Forest.
Emmanuel Ngota
The significant achievements of this decisive operation are sufficient to prove the importance of the bilateral or multilateral cooperation in the fight against trans-border threat such as the insurgency of the Boko Haram sect.
As many other joint operations conducted before involving the Multinational Joint Task Force-S1 and national Forces, the preparation of “Deep Punch 2” started with two joint planning meeting held in Maroua in December 2017, and in Maiduguri in January 2018.
The Operation involved a Joint Task Force of 572 soldiers from the Multinational Joint Task Force and Operation “Emergence4”, and units of 7 Nigerian Divisions. Combining Infantry, Artillery, armored, with air support from Nigeria and Cameroon Air Forces, troops succeeded in disrupting and dislocating many strongholds of the Boko Haram sect in Sambisa in a three months period.
Hundreds of terrorists were neutralized and many materials such as weapons, vehicles and armored were recovered. Improvised explosive devices (ied) factories and other logistic infrastructures of the Boko Haram sect were destroyed. Thousands of persons were freed from terrorist’s captivity and transferred either to Internally Displaced camps or to their villages.
All these operational achievements significantly increased the level of security in the general area, leading to the reopening of the economic corridor of Maiduguri-BAMA-Banki-Mora, officially on 24th March 2018. The bilateral cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria was also reinforced, through regular meeting of authorities of both countries.
Definitely, the cooperation between the Multinational Joint Task Force-Sector 1 and national Forces from Cameroon and Nigeria happens to be the key of the success in the fight against Boko Haram alongside the border of these countries. This winning collaboration is still going on in Operation AMNI FAKAT, and many other achievements are to come.
The participation of the Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff with the 7th Brigade Guard taking part in the celebration of Cameroon’s National Day in Yaounde on the 20th of May 2018, was a sign of this strong cooperation existing between the two countries.
Nigeria and Cameroon cooperate on the bilateral and multilateral levels so as to fight efficiently against the threat caused by Boko Haram. On that score, one can hope that the visit of President BUHARI will stregnthen security c ooperation.Take note that in the fight against insecurity along their common border, Cameroon and Nigeria signed on 28 February 2012 in Abuja, an agreement to set up a Border Security Committee. This committee meets twice a year in ordinary session, alternatively in Cameroon and in Nigeria. The last session of the Committee was on 18 to 20 February in Yaounde.an agreement to set up a Border Security Committee. This committee meets twice a year in ordinary session, alternatively in Cameroon and in Nigeria. The last session
of the Committee was on 18 to 20 February in Yaounde.