Chadian troops join Nigeria to raid Sambisa

Combined security forces of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon on Tuesday launched an operation on Sambisa forest, a stronghold of Boko Haram in Borno state.

A security source told TheCable that the operation started on Monday night.

Chris Olukolade, defence spokesman, also confirmed the news to journalists, saying that the operation was meant to destabilise the sect.

“We are still committed in ensuring that we degrade their ability to continue their activities and eventually eliminate them,” he said.

“The mission is on. There are no allowing terrorists anywhere. As many times as they come, it will only give us the opportunity to decimate them.”

The African Union recently approved the establishment of a 7,500-strong regional force to fight Boko Haram.

On Tuesday, armoured vehicles and infantry crossed a bridge from Cameroon into Nigeria.

Chad’s deepening involvement suggests that the conflict with Boko Haram is taking a regional dimension.

Last week, Chadian troops chased the militants out of Malumfatori, a Borno town, which lies near the borders of Chad and Niger.

On Saturday, Chadian forces reclaimed the northeastern Nigerian town of Gamboru-Ngala after a heated battle with Boko Haram that involved a ground and air campaign.

Gamboru-Ngala, about 145 kilometres east of Maiduguri, was captured by Boko Haram last year.

Meanwhile, the defence headquarters has assured Nigerians that the cooperation with countries making up Lake Chad Basin Commission, is not compromising Nigeria’s territorial integrity in any way.

The military described the development as a concrete measure targeted at bringing an end to insurgency.

“The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in which Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad have contingents, are part of the ongoing onslaught against terrorists in this region,” read a statement issued by the military on Tuesday.

“Contrary to impression in some quarters, it is Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria, not the Chadian Forces as being propagated by some media.

“For instance, Chadian forces have been deployed in Baga Sola, which is a Chadian territory.

“There have been some joint deployments and patrols around Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other locations along the border with Cameroun, Nigeria and Chad as part of these operations.

“Chadians and others are, however, keying into and working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round move against the terrorists as agreed.”