Boko Haram Attack Claims 17 Chadian Soldiers, 96 Insurgents Killed in Lake Chad Region

Boko Haram insurgents killed 17 Chadian soldiers in a weekend attack on a military post, while the Chadian army reported that 96 attackers were also killed in the confrontation.

The incident occurred in the Lake Chad region on Saturday, as confirmed by army spokesman Gen. Issakh Acheikh during a state television broadcast on Sunday night, though he did not provide further details.

This region has experienced a surge in attacks by insurgents, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa, raising concerns of renewed violence after a period of relative calm that followed a successful military operation by the Chadian army in 2020 aimed at dismantling extremist bases.

Last month, an attack on a military base resulted in the deaths of 40 soldiers, leading President Mahamat Deby Itno to initiate operations to drive Boko Haram militants out of Lake Chad. In March, another assault attributed to Boko Haram left seven soldiers dead.

Boko Haram, which began its insurgency over a decade ago opposing Western education, aims to impose Islamic law in northeastern Nigeria. The conflict has expanded into neighboring West African countries, including Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Chad, with a population of nearly 18 million, has faced significant political unrest before and after the contested 2021 presidential election that saw Deby Itno secure victory.

He has been serving as interim president following his father’s death in 2021 during a period of military rule.