The Chadian army reported killing 96 insurgents in retaliation, as armed group activity intensifies in the region.
In a weekend attack on a military installation in the west of the country, the Boko Haram terror group murdered 17 Chadian soldiers and left 96 attackers dead, according to the country’s army.
Gen. Issakh Acheikh, the army spokesperson, stated on national television on Sunday evening that the attack in the Lake Chad region occurred on Saturday. He gave no specifics.
This year, terrorist organizations like the ISWAP and Boko Haram have attacked the Lake Chad region on a regular basis. After a time of tranquility after the Chadian army’s successful operation in 2020 to demolish the bases of the extremist groups, it has reignited worries of bloodshed.
President Mahamat Deby Itno launched an operation to drive Boko Haram out of Lake Chad after an attack on a military base last month killed 40 soldiers. Seven troops were killed in an attack in March that the government attributed to Boko Haram.
Boko Haram, which began an uprising against Western education over ten years ago, is attempting to take control of the northeastern region of Nigeria. The insurgency has extended to neighboring countries in West Africa, including as Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
Before and after a contentious presidential election in which Deby Itno won, Chad, a nation of almost 18 million people, was in the throes of political unrest. He had served as the nation’s acting president during the military takeover that ensued after his father’s passing in 2021.
