By Ayo Kehinde
A deadly Boko Haram attack on a Chadian military base on the shores of Lake Chad has left 23 soldiers dead, even as the Chadian Armed Forces successfully repelled the assault and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers.
Army spokesman Issakha Acheikh Chanane confirmed that the incident occurred late Monday on the island of Barka Tolorom, where militants launched a coordinated assault on the military position. He said 26 other soldiers sustained injuries during the fierce confrontation.
Despite the casualties, Chanane stressed that Chadian troops responded swiftly and decisively, forcing the attackers to withdraw after intense fighting. He added that “a significant number of militants were neutralised” in the counter-offensive.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno condemned the attack, describing it as “cowardly,” while reaffirming the government’s resolve to intensify the fight against extremist groups operating in the region.
“In the face of barbarism, Chad stands firm, united, and unyielding. Obscurantism will never prevail over the Republic. We will continue the fight with renewed determination until this threat is eradicated”, the President said.
Boko Haram, which originated from Nigeria, has for years carried out repeated cross-border attacks across the Lake Chad Basin, affecting Chad, Cameroon, and surrounding nations. The militants are known to exploit the difficult terrain of the Lake Chad islands, which have increasingly become a stronghold for insurgent activity despite ongoing regional military operations.
The latest assault comes amid renewed security efforts in the region, following earlier deadly incidents such as the March 2020 Bohoma peninsula attack, which resulted in the deaths of about 100 Chadian soldiers.
