Maj Gen Godwin Mutkut receives the MNJTF flag from his predecessor, Maj Gen Ibrahim Ali, during the handing-over ceremony on Thursday, January 23, 2025
From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
A new Field Commander has assumed leadership of the regional military operation, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), to enhance the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the Lake Chad region.
Maj Gen Godwin Mutkut officially took charge at the MNJTF headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, on Thursday, according to a statement by the force’s spokesperson, Lt Col Olaniyi Osoba.
“I am honoured to take on this responsibility and committed to working closely with all stakeholders to consolidate our gains and address the evolving security challenges in the Lake Chad Basin,” Mutkut said.
He expressed gratitude to the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), the regional platform coordinating member states, for its contributions and the confidence reposed in him.
He pledged to build on the successes of his predecessors and continue advancing the MNJTF’s mandate to promote peace and stability in the region.
Gen Mutkut, who previously served as Commanding Officer of the MNJTF/Joint Task Force (JTF) Sector 3 in Monguno, Borno, and as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, succeeded Maj Gen Ibrahim Sallau Ali.