Chadian authorities have confirmed that 23 soldiers lost their lives while 26 others sustained injuries following an attack by Boko Haram militants on a military position near Lake Chad.
According to army spokesperson Issakha Acheikh Chanane, the assault occurred late on Monday on the island of Barka Tolorom and was repelled by government forces, who also inflicted significant losses on the attackers.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno condemned the incident, describing it as a “cowardly attack,” and vowed that the country would remain resolute in confronting extremist violence.
He stressed that Chad would not be intimidated by insurgent groups, adding that efforts to eliminate the threat would continue with greater determination.
Boko Haram, which originated in Nigeria, has for years carried out cross-border attacks across the Lake Chad Basin, affecting communities in Chad, Cameroon, and neighbouring countries. The islands in the lake have increasingly served as strongholds for the group.
The latest incident comes years after one of the deadliest attacks in the country in March 2020, when about 100 soldiers were killed on the Bohoma peninsula.
Chad has continued to intensify military operations in the region as part of broader regional efforts to counter insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.