Chadian officials reported Tuesday that Boko Haram militants killed at least 23 security personnel in an attack on a military base. The assault occurred Monday night on the shores of Lake Chad, which sits at the tripoint of Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.

Dozens of Chadian soldiers were wounded in the attack, which was eventually repelled. President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno wrote on Facebook: 'Once again, the nebulous Boko Haram terrorist group carried out a cowardly attack last night on our military base at Barka Tolorom. We will continue the fight with renewed determination until this threat is completely eradicated.'

Although the jihadist group originated in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram has expanded into the Lake Chad region and beyond over the past decade. According to the United Nations, the group has killed several thousand people and displaced millions.

Boko Haram has ramped up kidnappings and attacks on soldiers around Lake Chad in recent years, including an October 2024 attack that killed around 40 Chadian troops. Deby responded with a counter-offensive that he vowed to 'personally' lead on the ground for two weeks.

The offensive ended in February 2025, with the Chadian army claiming at the time that Boko Haram had 'no more sanctuary on Chadian territory.' However, the islands and marshes of Lake Chad also serve as a haven for other armed groups, including Boko Haram's rival splinter group, the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Source: www.dw.com